| | |  | Last Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |  | | | The Hidden Costs of Gambling
- Saturday, 22 Apr 2006
Bankruptcy, addiction and money laundering: These are three of the negative affects of gambling which are society are faced with. Three people who deal with these issues on a daily basis because of their jobs have spoken out and are trying to encourage the casinos and the authorities to be more socially responsible for the negative side of gambling. While all three admit that every social issue has a negative side, and that there are many positive aspects of gambling such as increased revenue and job creation, the negative aspects need to be dealt with accordingly.
One judge that deals with bankruptcy cases which are often gambling related has said that people who enter his court have no idea how they got from point A to point B. He says that they never thought that they had gambling problems until they found that they were up to their ears in debt, had sold all their belongings and they were without a place to live. Gambling suddenly became the reason for all of these problems – but the awareness thereof only came at a later stage. The judge said that casinos who are faced with a compulsive gambler need to approach him to make sure that he is aware of what he is getting into.
Another professional who works in a compulsive gambling clinic has said that much work has been done in the area of compulsive gambling but much more is needed. She said that casinos and local authorities are finally providing a budget for the clinics, but that more money and awareness within the casinos were needed.
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