Gambling becomes morally wrong when it deprives people of the necessities of life for themselves and their families. Some Protestant churches hold that all gambling is morally wrong because, by its very nature, it breeds greed. Since our viewpoints differ slightly, Catholics have been reluctant to speak out against the abuses of gambling since they do not want to be associated with the positions that all gambling is morally wrong. The passion for gambling can easily become highly addictive. Young people, senior citizens and homemakers with plenty of time on their hands are most vulnerable.
Employers report a higher worker absenteeism among addicts.
Families break up over the issue. Crimes such as embezzlement rise. People have applied for bankruptcy or had to sell their homes because of an addiction. The number of calls made to the Louisiana Gambler s Hotline in 2000 increased from 478 in January to 777 in December. Even suicides have been linked to losses in the gaming industry.