Most Americans are social gamblers who can enjoy the fun of gambling without harmful effects. Some gamblers, however, are unable to control their gambling and are referred to as Compulsive Gamblers. Compulsive Gambling is NOT just a bad habit. It is an emotional illness recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. Just as some people can become addicted to alcohol or drugs, compulsive gamblers become obsessed with an uncontrollable urge to gamble.
Action is what compulsive gambling is all about.
The effect, however, wears off when the gambler must face the reality of lost money and lost time. A 1997 study indicates that Compulsive Gambling afffects up to 2 percent of adults who gamble. Compulsive Gambling affects men and women of any age, race or religion, regardless of their financial, social or educational status.