Is gambling a problem for you or someone you know?
With the inception of Internet gambling and Native American casinos compulsive gambling has become a serious problem for many teens and adults.
Internet gambling is popular among several age groups, however, teenagers have shown a special interest in the sites. “Statistics prove that teen-age Internet gambling is the fastest growing addiction of the day,https://fantic-bikes.com/ akin to drug and alcohol abuse in the 1930s,” said David Robertson, former chairman of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, on the It’s pernicious, it’s evil, it’s certainly one that feeds on those who are the weakest members of society — and that’s the young and the poor.”
“Sports betting is a major problem, and it is getting worse,” said Ed Looney, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey Inc., on the council’s Web site,. “Betting pools available in high schools, colleges and offices throughout America will nearly match the amount of money generated on Super Bowl Sunday.”
“Seemingly innocent office pools many times are catalysts for some people to get involved in sports betting,” Looney said. “Many of these pools are illegal.”
Many people are using the Internet, to place bets and gamble. “Internet gambling has increased from one site to 1,400 in the past six years,” said Kevin O’Neill, deputy director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Inc., on the council’s Web site. “Easy availability and opportunity to make bets are the key essentials for young people to move into problem and compulsive gambling.”
A study by the National Institute of Mental Health concluded 4.2 million Americans are addicted to gambling, 60 percent of whom have yearly incomes under $25,000.