Embezzlement Just One Problem with Addiction

Most people don’t even realize that they are addicted to gambling. It is so sly and so insidious that they have mortgaged their homes, spent their retirements, and racked up more credit card debt than you can imagine with no one, not even them, realizing that they are addicted to slot machines, or poker, or some other form of gambling.

Embezzlement is just one way that people find to deal with their gambling. They take money from schools, churches, businesses, etc. all to supply them with more money to gamble with. Take David Wendt, he was an attorney and part time city judge – yet he was just sentenced to two years in the county lockup because he stole money from his clients to continue his gambling addiction. He stole more than $219,000 from his clients.

Even more common than embezzlement is bankruptcy. Many use their paychecks to gamble then run up credit cards or take out loans to pay their bills. Eventually they can’t keep up with their debt and they end up filing bankruptcy. Even then, many still continue to gamble – and they eventually end up in the same place they were before.

Then, of course, there is the worst side effect from problem gambling, and that would be suicide. Many people see no way out of their gambling addiction, or they are afraid to tell loved ones what they have done. Instead of telling someone or seeking help, they end up killing themselves leaving their loved ones with the debt that they couldn’t tell them about. More than one husband or wife has started mourning the loss of a spouse only to find out that they are now hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt – and they didn’t even know they had a problem.

There are gambling programs out there that will help you find the solution to your problem. Even if you just need someone to listen. But remember, before you consider suicide, or even stealing to fund your problem, know that there is help out there and that you are not alone.

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