by Trung Nguyen

1. Definition

2. Classification

3. Reasons people become addicted

4. Risk factors

5. Types of gamblers

6. Phases of gambling addiction

7. Characteristics of compulsive gamblers

8. Gambling a type of drug

9. How gambling is similar to drugs

10. Gambling is worse than alcohol and drugs

What it takes to overcome gambling addiction....

A long, lonely, uphill battle with plenty of hard work ahead.

I looked at the Gamblers Anonymous site today for the first time and read the 12 steps to recovery. Then I did some research. Here are my thoughts.

"A gambler with a system must be, to a greater or lesser extent, insane." - George Augusta Sala (1828-95), English Writer and journalist.

Thirty years ago, this month, I was in what is referred to as the Desperation Phase of Compulsive Gambling. I was 30 years old, married with 2 children. I was in debt for the amount of three times my annual salary. I owed two finance companies, three banks, loan sharks and bookmakers and family, friends and co- workers for a total of thirty-two people. I had just written a check to a stock brokerage firm for $4400.00 (to purchase stocks) and all I had was $10 in my account. I thought about suicide on a daily basis, but never had enough guts to carry it out.