Anthony+N.

====About 90% of people in the world gamble casually. But for the other 10% it is a problem and people can't stop. Many people end up destitute and no assets. Gambling is something that many people can't stop. There are many celebrities and wealthy people that have lost so much to gambling. Some examples are Edgar Allen Poe and Fyodor Dostoevsky, these two people are extremely well known and were plagued by gambling.====

Scene I:
====Anthony: Gambling is a terrible thing. About 90% of people who gamble, gamble occasionally. But for the other 10% of people who gamble suffer from addiction. They can't stop thinking about how they can get a bet. Many people gamble at a slot machine or a casino table (picture of a casino table and slot machine). But people who are addicted are turn every day events into a bet. Things like how many pairs are on a serial number. Money is the biggest problem for these people. Many people have overdue bills and debt of every kind. For the unfortunate people who are with them, the gambler is often secretive about it. When people have a problem gambling they seek loans from family, friends, and banks. Although their actions are similar there are two types of compulsive gambling. One is called action gamblers and use gambling as a thrill. They tend to play games such as card games and craps. The other type is escape betting where people use betting to get away from their lives. Instead of using gambling as a way to feel a rush they use it to feel numb and zone out. Because they can't stop gambling they often tear their family apart. Gambling is an issue that causes problems in people's social and family lives. Gambling is shown to cause problems getting a job, psychological distress, and a higher rate of suicide and attempted suicide.====

====Fyodor Dostoevsky: Fyodor Dostoevsky is an award winning author but his success was always plagued by his addiction to gambling(picture of roulette). When he first started gambling he found a thrill in risking his fortune. But later when he couldn't stop he realized he had a problem. It caused marital tension between him and his wife. He pawned her jewelry and many times with no hope of getting it back. He stayed in Europe for more time than he wanted because he couldn't afford to go home. He even wrote a book about how gambling can ruin a person's life called __The Gambler__. His book is considered the greatest look into a gamblers mind that we have today. Although he is successful now he went through the hard times first.====

====Edgar Allen Poe: My name is Edgar Allen Poe I wrote many famous poems such as the raven (picture of a raven)and kingdom by sea Picture of a palace). I am very well known but I also suffered from addictive gambling. I was forced to drop out of the university of Virginia (picture of University)only after 8 months because of my debt. I spent a lot of time playing cards and gambling on roulette. My life could have been ruined by gambling but I was lucky to escape from the addiction.====

====Anthony: Many people suffer from gambling addiction, but many of them are able to come out of it and rejoin society. Groups like gamblers anonymous try to help people who are suffering. One common method is a pressure session where members ask one another to be honest with themselves and family to get over their addiction. Another method is to go through the 12 questions that involve correcting their wrongs among other things such as admitting to a Higher Power. They show gamblers that thier addiction is hurting every body around them. They show them that their life can be better. The real difficlulty in stopping isn't so much as quitting but showing yourself that it isn't worth it. Gambling is something that many people do and isn't something that is always addictive. But make sure it happens in moderation other wise there could be an isue.====

[|www.gamblersanonymous.org/]
 * References:**

[|news.newamericamedia.org/news/]

[|www.ncpgambling.org/]

[|www.masscompulsivegambling.org/]

[|www.helpguide.org/mental/] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyodor_Dostoevsky