When I was in university I worked at a hotel/bar and one of my jobs was VLT cashier. It was quite the eye opening experience to see gambling addictions first hand.
One Saturday morning a lady was getting impatient waiting for the machines to turn on. (In Manitoba they are activated by WCLC, not the bar.) She kept coming up for $20 worth of loonies time and time again. Then the last time she came up to me she was crying. Apparently her husband had almost divorced her over her gambling; and today was the first time in 6 months that she had been allowed to carry money. Her hubby gave her $200 to go buy groceries, and she blew it all.
She asked if there was anything I could do for her, and she flipped when I handed her a "Gamblers Anonomous" flyer and said "sorry, all I can do is suggest you call these guys." She absolutely flipped on me, saying that I should have stopped her after $40.
I really feel sorry for people who have serious addictions to things that I consider recreations. (Gambling, alcohol, porn, etc.) But at some point you need to take resposibility for your own actions.
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