Реферат: Legalized Gambling Essay Research Paper Through the

have been known ways of getting money to pay off gambling

debts.32

People become compulsive gamblers through peer

pressure and social pressure. Most are very competitive,

athletic, have above average intelligence, and are

motivated to achieve.33 Many gamble for a death instinct,

a need to lose, a wish to repeat a big win,

identification, and a desire for action or excitement.34

Out of the three million compulsive gamblers in America,

65% are men.35 The most common occupation for a

compulsive gambler is an attorney, while accountants,

bankers, stock brokers, and sports figures have a higher

than average percentage of compulsive gamblers.36 Some

compulsive gamblers of today include Walter Mathau, Omar

Shariff, and Larry King.

These troubled people have been and will be around as

long as gambling is available. Even over 100 years ago,

big name compulsive gamblers, such as W.H. Vanderbilt and

J.P. Morgan lost millions of dollars gambling.37

Institutions, such as the 800 Gambler Anonymous’s and 300

Gam-Anon’s, have been made to help these troubled

individuals, but most need professional help, which they

can not afford.38

Unfortunately, teen-age gambling also has increased

dramatically, especially in cities with legalized

gambling. According to Fred Franco Jr., a prosecutor in

New Jersey, “gambling is the addiction of the ’90’s.”39

These teen gamblers get an adrenaline rush when gambling,

just like when taking drugs. Approximately 500 million to