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Sports Betting Can Lead to a Gambling Addiction

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DR. WALLACE: My friends and I bet with each other on sporting events, such as the World Series, Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament, key boxing matches and other sporting games. We don't bet a lot of money on each event. If I had horrible luck and lost every bet, I would be out less than $500. But it would be almost impossible to lose all my bets.

My parents allow me to gamble, mainly because my dad is in our betting group. It's my mom who is upset at both of us. She thinks he's teaching me bad habits. Trust me when I tell you that I will never become addicted to gambling. All of these bets are nothing but innocent fun and recreation. Do you think what I'm doing (let my dad speak for himself) is wrong? — Nameless, Goshen, Ind.

NAMELESS: Mom is right to be concerned. Gambling addiction is a serious matter, capable of wrecking lives and throwing people into bankruptcy. And as public acceptance of this vice grows, the problem becomes worse.

In the past few decades, gambling has become increasingly mainstream by pervading our lives at every level — from bingo fundraisers at churches and schools to state lotteries. There are now 43 states with this form of "alternative taxation."

Until recently, only the state of Nevada allowed gambling casinos. Now, many states have them and those that don't are changing their minds; it's a lucrative business. Iowa and Illinois use the Mississippi River as a home for their floating casinos, and Indian reservations around the country have struck gold with gaming palaces. While traveling by cruise ship between Maine and Nova Scotia, a passenger can kill some time by playing the slot machines, poker or whatever game of chance he fancies.

According to a Mayo Clinic Health Letter, America's gambling habit has grown from $80 billion a year in 1986 to over $600 billion. And illegal gambling is flourishing alongside the legal version. Today, there are more illegal bookies operating in the United States than police officers to arrest them. If they were all arrested at once, our judicial system would collapse under the caseload.

Eight years ago, 3 million Americans were identified as compulsive gamblers. Today, Gamblers Anonymous estimates the number to be 10 million. In the 1970s, most compulsive gamblers were between the ages of 30 and 55, but now the age range is 17 to 70.

Movies portray compulsive gamblers as either lowlifes or slick high rollers.

"In real life, compulsive gamblers are regular people: judges, teachers, carpenters, teenagers and grandmothers with many outstanding traits," says Dr. Valerie Lorenz, executive director of the Compulsive Gambling Center.

According to Lorenz, if you're a compulsive gambler, you're probably competitive, charming and highly intelligent. You like sports. You're good at math. But you have one devastating characteristic — you enjoy the thrill of gambling.

While your sports betting may seem perfectly innocent, this is just how many addictive gamblers started out — by betting $5 on their favorite football team. You say you won't become an addict, but I say it's possible that you will.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.

TWEEN 12 & 20

BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE

RELEASE: TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2009, AND THEREAFTER

Teen Needs to Confront Mom about Shoplifting Incidents

DR. WALLACE: I'm 15 and really worried about my mom. One of my good friends works at a grocery store where she shops, and he told me that she has been stealing things from the store. He said he saw her putting items in her purse several times. He didn't tell the manager because he knows my mom; he wanted to let me know.

I really didn't believe it, but the next time I went shopping with Mom, I kept my eye on her from a distance. I was devastated to see her put two cans of tuna into her purse. She left the store without paying for them.

We're not rich, but we have everything we need and never have any problems. We are a close family and I feel I should tell my dad for Mom's sake, but I don't know if that's the best thing to do. I think this has just started happening and I want to stop it from continuing. Can you help me? — Nameless, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

NAMELESS: Your mom's behavior has put you in a real bind, but it is a blessing that you learned about it before she got herself into embarrassing trouble.

If she has not shoplifted before, then something has happened in her life to cause her to do so now. I suggest you have a talk with her in private before you do anything else. Tell her you saw her put the tuna in her purse and that your friend spotted her stealing items from the grocery store.

Knowing that she's been discovered may be enough to get Mom to talk about what's going on with her. Make sure you let her know you love her, and encourage her to discuss everything with your father. He can provide her with moral support and, if necessary, see that she gets the help she needs. If she doesn't tell Dad, you must. Mom may have a serious problem that she can't solve by herself.

RESPONSIBLE TEENS SHOULD BE TRUSTED WITH CREDIT CARDS

DR. WALLACE: I recently graduated from high school and will be attending Iowa State University this fall. I graduated from high school with a B (plus) average and was a good citizen. I never was in trouble at school or in our community. I attend church regularly and sing in the choir.

I haven't had a job other than baby-sitting for my older sister's twins. My parents didn't want me to work because they believed it would interfere with my schoolwork. They provided me with an adequate allowance so I was rarely broke. My parents are paying all of my university expenses, for which I'm very grateful, and will also give me an allowance for my social activities.

That's good, but I also want to have my own credit card for emergencies. My parents don't like that idea. They said they would take care of all my emergencies. Dr. Wallace, I do want the use of a credit card — "just in case." I would never use it recklessly.

Without giving a long dissertation, please give me a simple yes or no answer. Would it be in my best interest to have my own credit card? I am a very disciplined teen. — Nameless, Davenport, Iowa.

NAMELESS: Yes!

At the risk of appearing to give a long dissertation, I'd like to add that learning to use a credit card responsibly is part of the long process of maturing. I believe that college-age teens that have demonstrated sound judgment deserve to be trusted to manage their finances. Parents need to let go of total financial control over their children.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.

TWEEN 12 & 20

BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE

RELEASE: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2009, AND THEREAFTER

Teen Should Pursue Teaching if She Has a Passion for Education

DR. WALLACE: I'd like to major in education when I enter the University of Michigan in the fall of 2010. Both of my parents are medical doctors and are pushing hard for me to be a premed student and eventually follow in their footsteps. They also feel that teachers are overworked and underpaid; they think I couldn't enjoy a good lifestyle on a teacher's salary.

Since you are a former teacher, I'd like your honest opinion on the teaching profession. If you had to do it all over again, would you have entered the field of education? Please give me an honest answer. — Jenny, Detroit.

JENNY: Your parents are 100 percent correct when they say that teachers are overworked and underpaid. But if you feel called to be a teacher, they shouldn't try to stop you.

Teaching is a deeply satisfying profession. That's why many high-profile business executives and politicians turn to it after they have had their fill of the corporate and political world.

I did not major in education as an undergraduate at Knox College; after graduation, I entered the business arena. I worked in sales for a large company for a few years, but I felt unfulfilled. In my heart, I knew I wanted to be a teacher and coach.

I enrolled at Northern Illinois University and earned a master's degree in education. I started my new career at Hiawatha High School in Kirkland, Ill., and have never regretted my decision to bypass the business world and work with young people. And, yes, I would do it all over again.

I didn't become financially rich teaching English and coaching basketball, but our family always had a roof over our heads and we didn't miss any meals. It so happened that my wife, Mona, was also a teacher, and both of our children entered the teaching profession after graduating from college. We are a happy family! What more could we want than that?

TEEN MUST GIVE HER MOM ANOTHER CHANCE

DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and have lived with my grandmother for the past two years because my mother was addicted to drugs. The other day, my grandmother told me that my mother was cured of her addiction and that I had to go back to New Orleans to live with her.

Dr. Wallace, I don't want to go back to live with my mom. All we did was fight when we were together. Also, I read somewhere that if someone is addicted to drugs or alcohol, that person can never be cured.

If that's the case, I know my mom will use cocaine again. — Nameless, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

NAMELESS: It's true that addicts are never "cured" of their addiction, but with strong determination and assistance from professionals and self-help organizations, they can live drug-free, productive lives.

I realize a lot is being asked of you. But your mother deserves a chance. Give it to her, along with all your love, and do everything in your power to help her maintain a drug-free life.

Just make sure your grandmother will allow you to return if Mom starts using drugs again. And keep in close touch with your grandmother because you can depend on her for moral support. And your grandmother will know what to do if problems arise.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.

TWEEN 12 & 20

BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE

RELEASE: THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2009, AND THEREAFTER

Important Rules Can Help Parents When Raising Their Kids

DR. WALLACE: Yesterday, I visited my best friend at her house and she had posted something called the "Twelve Rules of Parenting" on her refrigerator. She said that her daughter's school counselor gave it to her. I took a copy and I'm sending you the Rules — you can add some of the ideas to the many suggestions you give to the parents who read your column. — Mom, Phoenix.

Here are the "Twelve Rules of Parenting:"

— Hug your children after you discipline them.

— Don't worry that you can't give your kids the best of everything. Give them YOUR very best.

— Encourage your children to have a part-time job after the age of 16.

— Teach your children the value of money and the importance of saving.

— Every day, show your family how much you love them with your words, with your touch and with your thoughtfulness.

— When tempted to criticize your parents, spouse or children, bite your tongue.

— Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

— Just to see how it feels, for the next 24 hours refrain from criticizing anybody or anything.

— Listen to your children.

— Let your children overhear you saying complimentary things about them to other adults.

— Work hard to create in your children a good self-image. It's the most important thing you can do to ensure their success.

— Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems.

MOM: Thanks for sharing. Many parents will also thank you.

I'd like to add another rule for good parenting: Take an interest in your child's education and work positively with the school and teachers to ensure the best possible learning experience for your child.

BOYFRIEND'S VULGAR LANGUAGE WILL NOT CHANGE IN MARRIAGE

DR. WALLACE: Matt and I have been together as a couple for over four years. Now he wants us to get married and move to Alaska. His brother lives there and has promised Matt a job with his construction company. I think living in Alaska would be exciting, and if Matt didn't have a bothersome flaw, my answer would be yes.

Matt has a very vulgar mouth. Every sentence he utters is laced with vile and despicable vocabulary. Is it possible that, in time, after we would be husband and wife, he would learn to speak without being vulgar? Matt also has poor grammar, but his "I ain't got no" is more acceptable. — Nameless, Lodi, Calif.

NAMELESS: There's no reason to think that Matt will ever change his foul-mouth ways. His vocabulary has bothered you for four years. If you married him, you'd be subjected to his vulgarity "'till death do you part."

My advice is to end the relationship. True love has no place for vulgarity, which is a sign of great disrespect.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.

TWEEN 12 & 20

BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE

RELEASE: FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2009, AND THEREAFTER

Mother Should Not be Giving her Daughter Birth Control Pills

DR. WALLACE: My 16-year-old cousin lives near me and we are very good friends. She doesn't know her father because her mother was unwed when my cousin was born. My cousin's mother (my father's sister) is 33 and considers herself to be an older "teen." She uses the teen slang, listens to rap music and wears sexy outfits. Last night, my cousin said that her mother made an appointment for her to see the doctor in order to get a prescription for birth control pills, just like her mother.

My cousin is rather shy and has told me that she really doesn't need birth control pills; she has not had sex and doesn't plan to. Her mother wants her to get the pills because she doesn't want her to have the same problem that she had as a teenager.

I think her mother is out of line with this birth control pill thing. Don't you? — Nameless, Indianapolis.

NAMELESS: Birth control pills are no substitute for parental guidance! The last thing a teenager needs is a "quasi-teen" parent more interested in being a teen than a mom. The only one in your cousin's family who needs birth control pills is the unwise mother.

BROTHER NEEDS TO SLEEP IN LIVING ROOM DURING THE SUMMER

DR. WALLACE: Please settle this family dispute. We live in a two-bedroom house. My parents sleep in one and I sleep in the other. It used to be my brother's room before he went off to college, and I slept on a cot in the living room.

Now my brother is home from college on summer break and wants "his" room back, but I refuse to be pushed out. All of my personal items are in the room and I don't want to store them all over the house. I don't think he should come home and expect to act like he never left. I think it's perfectly proper for him to sleep on the cot for a couple of months. After all, I'm a full-time resident, not a part-timer like my brother. I have already done my time on the cot in the living room!

Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you that I'm a mature young woman who is 16 years old. My mom encouraged me to get your opinion. — Nameless, South Bend, Ind.

NAMELESS: I agree 100 percent with your logic. The bedroom is now yours and should remain so year-round, including while your brother is home from college. He should be a gentleman and sleep on the cot. It's his turn. You already had your turn.

CONCERNED TEEN THINKS HIS GIRLFRIEND'S PARENTS DISLIKE HIM

DR. WALLACE: Kim and I are both 17 and care for each other very much. We share a common interest in religion, so we are not involved in sex, drugs or alcohol. Most of the time we have together is spent studying at her house or mine, listening to music or watching a good movie.

My concern is when we are at her house, her parents almost never talk to me. Because of this, I feel very uncomfortable. When Kim and I are at my house, my parents treat her as if she were part of our family. I talked to Kim about this several times, and she said her parents are quiet and I shouldn't make it a big issue. I'd like to ask them why they don't like me, but my parents feel the same as Kim.

Do you think I should discuss my concerns with her parents? — Josh, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

JOSH: I'm sure you're jumping to conclusions. If Kim's parents didn't like you, they wouldn't let you date their daughter, much less hang out at their house. Be friendly toward them. In time, they will become warm toward you.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.

TWEEN 12 & 20

BY DR. ROBERT WALLACE

RELEASE: SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2009, AND THEREAFTER

Parents Can't Force Son to Date and Show Interest in Girls

DR. WALLACE: We have two children, a 17-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter. Our daughter is interested in boys and has been for over two years. Our son shows no interest in girls. In his spare time, he only wants to work on his 1959 Chevrolet that we bought him for his birthday. I do everything possible to try to interest him in dating, but nothing has worked.

My husband and I are starting to worry that he might have a "problem." Please give me your thoughts on this. Our son is a bright young man, but the time should have come when he shows some interest in girls. I was 18 and my husband, 19, when we were married, and we went together for over three years before we decided to marry. — Mother, Frederick, Md.

MOTHER: Did it ever occur to you that maybe he is working feverishly on his Chevy so that he can attract the girls, and then when the time comes for a date, he will have his own "wheels"?

I'd advise you to relax and allow your son to mature socially in his own time. There's nothing you can do to "encourage" him, except make him angry and delay the process.

Please read the following letter from a mother. It will make you feel much better.

DR. WALLACE: I'm responding to the girl who wrote that her 16-year-old brother hadn't started dating yet and their family was getting worried.

I am the mother of 14 children. My oldest was a boy who showed absolutely no interest in girls. All he was interested in was making model airplanes and helping his father with the horses and cows.

On the day he graduated from high school (he was 18), Ethan had never been on a date and never wanted to go out with a girl. When he was 19, he entered an agricultural college. He stayed at school during the week and came home on the weekends. He was the type of guy you could set your watch by. We always knew he would arrive home Friday evening and return to school Sunday evening.

Then something odd happened after he was in college for five months. Ethan didn't come home one weekend. We were worried to death and decided to drive over to the college to find out what happened to Ethan. My husband was sure he was sick, injured or in jail. We were very nervous parents on that three-hour drive to the college.

We arrived on campus at about 11 p.m. When we drove around to his dorm, we noticed his car parked in the school library parking lot. We parked our car and both ran over to see if Ethan might be in it. He was, and so was his embarrassed date. Ethan had discovered females! Our trip home (without Ethan) was sprinkled with lots of laughs and a few tears.

In the next four months of school, Ethan made it home only once, for Easter, and he brought along his girlfriend. She is now his wife and together they have seven wonderful children. — Mom, Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.


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Arnie & Sheila Wexler Associates
If you need help with a gambling problem,
call 1-888-LAST-BET


Arnie Wexler's Story

I am a recovering Compulsive Gambler who placed my last bet April 10,1968.

I started gambling at about age 7 or 8 as a kid in Brooklyn, NY. It started with flipping baseball cards, pitching pennies, shooting marbles and playing pinball machines. That kind of gambling continued until about age 14. At that point I started to bet on sporting events with a bookmaker and I got into the stock market.

As a young kid, growing up, I always felt that everyone was better than me. The only time I felt okay about myself was after I had a win, whether it was marbles or baseball cards or pennies. Then at 14 I went to the racetrack for the first time (that was Memorial Day, 1951 Roosevelt Raceway). At that time in my life I was making $.50 an hour after school, working about 15-20 hours a week. That night at Roosevelt Raceway I had my first big win and walked out of the track with $54. Looking back today, I think it was that night that changed my life. Even though it was only $54, it was about 5 weeks salary to me at that time. That night gave me the belief that I could be a winner from gambling and eventually become a millionaire. I can still recall that high feeling walking out of the racetrack that night.

By 17, I was already stealing to support my gambling. It started with stealing comic books to play cards with from the local candy store. Before long it was stealing money from my family to pay for gambling. By then I was taking the bus to the racetrack, a few nights a week on a regular basis. In those days they closed the track in the winter months, in New York so on weekends, I would take the bus or the train to Maryland to gamble. I was betting sporting events and horses with the bookmaker on a daily basis. In those days each sport had its own season. I remember calling the bookmaker one day and the only thing that was available to gamble on was hockey. I had never seen a hockey game, but bet on it anyway. It wasn't until months later when I did see my first hockey game, that I realized that hockey was played on ice.

Somewhere between age 17 and 20 I went to the racetrack one night and won $6000. Wow! Another big win. It was the equivalent of 2 years salary. This reinforced my belief that I could be a winner at gambling.

By my early 20's I was betting big amounts on lots of games that I didn't really know much about and probably couldn't name more than a handful of players who played in these events. In some of the college games I bet on, I couldn't name one player or even tell you where the college was located, but I needed to be in action. By then I was a regular at the old Madison Square Garden, every week. I was watching and betting on college and professional basketball on a regular basis. At this point in my life I was working full time in a shipping department in the garment center and every Tuesday when we got paid there was a regular crap game out in the hallway. Almost every week I would lose my pay in this game. I began stealing supplies and merchandise on a daily basis to pay for my gambling. By then, I had a bank loan and a loan with a finance company loan. I was also borrowing from coworkers.

At 21 I met my future wife. Our first date was to the movies and most of the rest of our dating was at the racetrack. We had a joint checking account saving for our wedding. She would put money in and I wouldn't. I needed to use my money for gambling. I was still looking for another big win. I thought the perfect place for our honeymoon would be Las Vegas or Puerto Rico since I knew both places had casinos. My wife to be didn't think that was a good idea. I guess she understood enough about my gambling already. At 23 we got married and I wanted to stop gambling at that point. I thought that I could. Within a short time I was already back to gambling. Even though I wanted to stop, I realize today that I couldn't. I needed to gamble like any drug addict needed to stick that needle in their arm, or any alcoholic needed to have that drink.

Four weeks after we got married I went away to the Army Reserves at Fort Dix, NJ for 6 months. During those 6 months, I gambled every day, fast and furious, from placing bets by phone with the bookmaker to shooting crap and playing cards, every waking minute. When I came home in December of 1961, I owed $4000 and didn't even have a job.

I got a job, eventually, working in the garment center In the showroom that I worked in there were a few compulsive gamblers who I quickly got friendly with. They became my buddies. We would play cards during the day, and go to the racetrack at night and on weekends, together. My wife thought I was at business meetings some of these nights and all of us would lie for each other.

In 1963 my first daughter was born. My wife was in labor 37 hours. During that period I went to the racetrack twice. When the Doctor finally came out and told me that we had a baby, the only question I really was concerned about was "how much did she weigh". He told me 7lbs.1 oz. You would think that the concern should have been "how is my wife" or "how is the baby". The first call I made was to the bookmaker. I bet 71 in the daily double. The next day when I picked up the newspaper, the daily double hit. I was convinced that day that God was sending me a message that I was now going to be a winner.

One year later my boss gave me an option to buy 500 shares of stock in the company for $7500. Within a year that stock was worth $38,000. In those days you could buy a car for $2000 and a house for about $10,000. Within 3 years this money would be gone due to my gambling. By now I was a plant supervisor for a Fortune 500 company. My gambling was already so out of control that I was stealing everything I could to stay in action. I set up a room in the factory that we used for playing cards (all day long). I was starting to do illegal acts (manipulating stocks) in the stock market.

Our home life was deteriorating. Gambling was more important than anything else that was going on at home. I was lying about almost everything and I would come home and pick a fight so I could go out to gamble. Nothing else at that point in my life was more important than gambling; not my family or my job. Gambling came first. At this point even though I was doing illegal acts, I was still borrowing money from only legal sources.

My gambling continued to get progressively worse. I was now a plant manager, supervising 300-400 people. My boss worked in New York, and I was in the factory in NJ. Most of the time he didn't know what I was doing. Besides stealing and borrowing money from coworkers, I now had 3 bank loans and 3 loans to finance companies; I owed a loan shark an amount of money equal to one years salary. I was involved with 3 bookmakers, both working for them and betting with them. I directed a lot of people who gambled in my company, to my bookmaker and got a piece of the action. I even got involved in a numbers operation. Between this and stealing, I was supporting my gambling. There were times I would bet 40 or 50 games on a weekend, and believe I could win them all. One weekend, just before I hit my bottom, I called a bookmaker and took a shot by betting a round robin which amounted to about 2 years annual salary. At that moment if I lost that bet, there was no way I could pay it. Things were getting so bad, I remember calling a bookmaker one day and being told that if I didn't bring him the money I owed him he would not take my bet for that night. I went home and sold our car to a neighbor.

By now, I wasn't going home to pick a fight with my wife. I was doing it over the phone so I wouldn't waste the trip home. Most of the time I was out gambling, but when I was home we were constantly fighting. We had sex very rarely. When I won I was so high I didn't need it and if I lost I didn't want it. But there were times we had sex and my wife would say to me "do you hear a radio". Of course I would tell her she was crazy, but I had a radio on under the pillow so I could listen to a game. We were trying to have another child, but couldn't. My wife came to me with the idea of adoption. I didn't like that idea especially when I was told it would cost money. I needed that money for gambling. After 3 months of her bothering me, I finally went along with the idea of adoption, as I thought she would be so busy with the 2 kids that she would leave me alone. I borrowed the money we needed from my boss and relatives. On the day we were bringing our son home on a plane, it was the 7th game of the 1967 World Series. My wife was busy looking at this beautiful new baby. I had no interest in him. I had a large bet on the game. The pilot was announcing the score every 15 minutes, or so. I was so upset that we were on this plane. I wished and prayed that the plane would get to the ground so that I could see or hear every minute of this game.

In the next few months the bottom fell out of my world even though I still had my job and still looked okay. There were no track marks on my arm, I wasn't smelling from my gambling. No one could really tell what was going on. I would come home from gambling and see my wife crying all the time, depressed, sick. Our daughter was 4 years old and I don't remember her walking or talking. I either wasn't home or when I was my head was consumed with the gambling. At that point in my life, I owed 32 people, 3 years annual salary. I had a life insurance policy and constantly thought about killing myself and leaving my wife and 2 kids that money. I would do anything to keep gambling. As long as I could get my hands on some more money to stay in action, I still thought that the big win was just around the corner. I was trying to find out where I could get drugs to sell and looking around at gas stations to rob. I was asking people about making counterfeit money. I was running out of options. My boss came to me one day and told me that a detective was following me and he had a report on my gambling. He knew I was betting more money than I earned and he was sure that I was stealing from the company and that if he found out he would have me arrested. Three hours later I was stealing from the company again. I needed to go to the racetrack that night. On February 2, 1968 my wife was having a miscarriage and I was taking her to the hospital. I was wishing and praying all the way that she would die. I thought that would solve all my problems (I wouldn't have to tell her how bad things were). That morning I called my mother to watch my kids, I called my boss and told him I couldn't come to work because my wife was in the hospital. That afternoon I went to the racetrack. After the track I went to see how my wife was. When I got to the hospital the doctor told me that my wife was in shock and had almost died. I was so deep into my addiction that I really didn't care about her, the 2 kids or myself. The only important thing was making a bet.

I thought that I was the only one living the way I was living and doing the things that I was doing. I found out that I was not alone and that I could stop gambling with the help of the other people. I had hope for the first time. It's been almost 38 years since I last gambled. Today I have everything I dreamed about getting from gambling and then some. I have a wonderful family that is still intact and even have been blessed with 4 grandchildren who I love very much. In the last 20 years I have been able to devote my working life to helping others who have this problem and educating people on the disease of Compulsive Gambling. This has been a dream come true.

Comment: #1
Posted by: arnie wexler
Mon Jun 8, 2009 5:50 PM
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