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The initial phase is the winning phase or
action phase which lasts from one to three
years. The second phase is the losing phase.
During this phase compulsive gamblers lose all
their winnings, then their savings, then borrow
to try to win back the losses. Some compulsive
gamblers attempt to stop gambling but are unable
to. They are unaware that without treatment
their gambling will get progressively worse. The
compulsive gambler enters the third phase, the
desperate phase, with little hope. Although the
majority of compulsive gamblers are law abiding
people, 90% will eventually do illegal acts in
order to gamble. In this desperate stage family
members are being severely effected by the
impact of the gambling problem: no money, little
communication, arguments, hostility. The
compulsive gambler reacts by denying and
isolating from family and friends. What little
hope they had gives way to bailouts, more
gambling and more losing. Suicidal thoughts come
more frequently as hopelessness becomes a
reality.
It is during this desperate time that an
intervention by a family member, an employee or
a close friend can enable the gambler to seek
help. Also, during this desperation phase, a
call to the 1-800 GAMBLER™ Helpline may start
the recovery process for the gambler and his or
her family.
The social costs of compulsive gambling are
staggering. Civil and criminal calendars in New
Jersey courts are filled with compulsive
gambling eases. Civil suits for no payment of
debts and divorce issues are common. Many
criminal cases have to do with embezzlement -
bad checks, insurance fraud and credit card
fraud are caused by compulsive gamblers who
commit illegal acts during their desperate
phase. The costs of public defenders are another
expense passed on to taxpayers since compulsive
gamblers have no money when they seek an
attorney to represent them.
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