ADDICTIONS
GAMBLING ADDICTION - I THINK I'M GOING TO WIN!
By Synthia Esther
On CNN Headline News today, January 26, 2007, was a story of a 62 year old granny from Bisbee, Arizona who was arrested for dealing drugs to pay for her bingo habit. She was sentenced 3 years and $150 fine. Bingo and gambling to win became granny's all consuming addiction and passion. For many years, Las Vegas, NV was one of numerous destinations I traveled to several times a year as a professional leg and shoe model. Vegas is home to one of the top two largest International world conventions for footwear. I have heard and seen first hand the devastating destruction that the thrill of gambling can impose on someone.
For every couple who marries in Vegas, I believe there are scores of couples who end in divorce due to a gambling problem that occurred in Las Vegas. Stories of a gamblers remorse, grief, anger and pain are common place. Crime follows a gamblers dreams as predators lurk with smiling faces as if to say, “Show me the money!” On one of my Vegas trips I was robbed of my money and identity as my wallet was picked out of my hand bag in a crowd. Robbery and theft is a big problem in Las Vegas with a Smith & Wesson beating four aces every day of the week! I have learned that anybody with money to burn will easily find someone to tend the fire.
Gambling places trust in luck rather than trust in God. Like all addictions, gambling is a coping mechanism replacing reality with fantasy. It also shows a disregard of responsible stewardship. All things belong to God. Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's , and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it... Gambling is playing a game of chance. The attempt to make profit out of the inevitable loss and possible suffering of others is not taking our responsibilities of stewardship seriously.
Gambling is also inconsistent with God's work ethic. He who works his land will have abundant food, but he that chases fantasies lacks judgment (Proverbs 12:11). 2nd Thessalonians 3:10 ...If a man will not work, he shall not eat. The Bible requires a person to work for life's necessities. It also warns against the attitude of getting something for nothing. Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Gambling addiction eventually leads to a pathological optimism that replaces the ability to learn from past mistakes and failures. The highs of winning and the lows of losing leads to the gambling addicts enjoyment of pain and pleasure. Habitual gambling, like all addictions, gives way to common sense and feeds a life of self-destruction, selfishness and shame.
Leave the drama behind you and choose a new life of peace, joy and happiness. Colossians 1:13-14 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Trusting in Lady Luck is always a gamble, but trusting in God never is. When you trust in the Lord with all your heart, he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).
MICHAEL'S STORY
Michael, a home repair man, did some interior work on my home. He is a twice millionaire who has a gambling addiction, having lost all of his money and small fortune due to his gambling habits. He moved from Las Vegas to Atlanta to get away from his number one temptation. I interviewed him asking the puzzling question, “Why risk losing all you have monetarily, just for the thrill and excitement of the bet?” His answer was simple, “I always thought I would win.” I inquired once again, “Why didn't you learn the lesson of losing after you lost your first million?” Once again his response was, “I always thought I would win!” Michael, who is now a born again Christian boldly states, “I now know as a past gambling addict, you always lose.”
Living in an apartment and sleeping on an air mattress he confides, “God is with me.” After four divorces, Michael confesses he is learning to trust in God, not women or gambling as an escape and coping mechanism. Michael has ADD and gets easily distracted, failing to finish his work if someone else is in the room. He was on a popular dating site to meet new prospects. He is involved in multi-level marketing, promoting his pyramid program in hopes of once again becoming a millionaire. He claims some of his best multi-level marketing clients and recruits have been women he has met on dating sites.
ILLUSION OF CONTROL
Ellen Langer (1977) demonstrated the illusion of control with experiments on gambling. Compared with those given an assigned lottery number, people who chose their own number demanded four times as much money when asked if they would sell their ticket. Throwing the dice or spinning the wheel increases peoples confidence (Wohl & Enzle, 2002).
Dice players may throw softly for low numbers and hard for high numbers (Henslin, 1967). When a gambler wins it is attributed to their skill. When they lose it is a near miss, a fluke or mishap caused by a bad call by the referee (Gilovich & Douglas, 1986). The illusion of control is not observed in relation to “regression toward the average,” (Tversky and Kahneman, 1974).
RESOURCE ARTICLES
- A Free Gift
- My Sacred Journey Home
- Died On The Forth Of July
- Surviving The Storm
- Your Pain Has A Purpose
- Divine Destiny And The Path Of Forgiveness
- Addiction Definition And Hypotheses
- Wicked Games People Play
COMPULSIVE GAMBLING INFORMATION AND RECOVERY RESOURCES
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission, Free on-line study and educational information available on several Internet websites.
National Council On Problem Gambling, Website, 24 hour confidential national helpline: 1-800-522-4700
216 G Street N.E., Suite 200
Washington, DC 20002
1-202-547-9204
E-mail: ncpg@ncpgambling.com
Gamblers Anonymous - Website
P.O. Box 17173
Los Angeles, Ca. 90017 Phone: 1-213-389-878
E-mail: isomain@gamblersanonymous.com
The National Center For Responsible Gaming – Website
Please Note:
Recovery resources listed are provided as a public service. Synthia Esther Ministries does not endorse, sponsor, promote or provide funding to, nor do we receive funding from any organization, group, website, or persons listed. We are self funding, supported by personal donations to this ministry. To keep Synthia Esther Ministries website on the world wide web and support our global message of salvation and spiritual transformation through Jesus Christ, your donation and support is greatly needed and appreciated. For information on how you can become a Synthia Esther Ministry team member please click here.
