Gambling, often described as a simple form of entertainment, has become uncontrollable behavior to many people. Pathological gamblers, gambling addicts, or compulsive gamblers are terms used to describe a person who considers gambling more than a diversion. One important reason is the rapid expansion of legal gambling. This expansion has led many people who have never before gambled to try this activity. Today, gambling is as socially acceptable as a night out at the movies and as common as baseball. While most people gamble for recreation and suffer no ill effects, the number of problem gamblers has flourished as the industry has grown. Both families and communities feel the economic and societal effect of gambling.
Gambling is a behavior, which causes disruptions in all areas of life: psychological, physical, and social. It has and element of addiction similar to that of drug and alcohol addiction, controlling the impulse. The gambler slowly loses control over the impulse to gamble and becomes emotionally caught up in the need for the excitement. When losing, gamblers are caught up in a frenzy to try to win back losses and when winning become overconfident that they will win more. This cycle leads to a preoccupation with gambling. The need to plan the next venture and where to get money consume the gambler's every thought. These thoughts can lead a person into doing things they would normally not do. In order to finance their addiction, lying, cheating, theft or embezzlement are desperate options used. At this stage, gambling starts to affect other aspects of the gambler's life.
Gambling is not victimless. Besides ruining the gambler, spouses and children suffer also. Divorce, domestic violence, and neglect are common in families with gambling parents or partners. The gambler hides many aspects of gambling addiction and often lies to cover up odd behavior. Losing the caring contact with family members leads gamblers farther and farther into their addiction.