Win or lose, the compulsive gambler continues. In the desperation phase crime and ill health flourish. Withdrawal produces nausea, sweating, cramps, and ultimately depression. Fear enters the family. Destitution, legal problems, loss of job, self respect, and sanity occur.
Children sometimes leave home and hope they never encounter their gambling parent again.
The psychiatric disease dictionary calls compulsive gambling a chronic, impulsive, progressive failure to resist gambling that damages family and vocational pursuits. Money is the drug of addiction. Something can be done. Gamblers Anonymous, patterned on Alcoholics Anonymous, is an abstinence based 12-step group therapy treatment. Some need antidepression treatment.