In the winning phase, there is excitement at winning several months income in one lucky strike. Wow, that felt good. In the losing phase there are also lies, ignoring loved ones' welfare, covering up of debts, job loss, and loss of intimacy. 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.