Bad Gambling Photos
While a weekend in Vegas or an evening in the casino on a cruise ship is fine, a visit to the Kentucky Derby for mint juleps and a little horse betting, and even the NCAA college football pool in which I participate this time every year is just fine, some people have serious gambling addictions. It’s serious because it’s a job to them; it’s not just in fun. Some people lose it all betting and gambling; their life savings, their homes, their families – everything. Many believe just the poor or ‘average’ man or woman is prone to gambling addictions, it’s not the case. Even some of the world’s wealthiest men and women, celebrities even, are addicted to gambling, and it costs them more than they are willing to admit. Read on to find out which of your favorite celebs are notorious gamblers that might border on the line of addictive.
Matt Damon
What’s shocking about him is that he’s such a good guy. He’s such a family man. He likes to be with his wife and his daughters, and he likes to stay out of the press. So the fact that he was part of a multi-million dollar gambling ring that played in high-end hotels and private homes of the world’s wealthiest men and women is astounding. What’s even more astounding is that he was sued for it. What’s even more astounding is that this also involved two of his very famous friends, Toby Maguire and Ben Affleck, both of whom are on this list.
Playing fruit machines was the most popular form of gambling, followed by playing cards for money with friends and scratch cards. Placing a private bet among friends and buying Lotto tickets were. Gambling games Stock Photography by Andreus 26 / 2,867 card player gambling casino chips Stock Images by 18percentgrey 85 / 1,881 Gambling Pictures by Elenathewise 37 / 2,574 Gambling Stock Photography by JanPietruszka 17 / 875 woman gambling on red table Stock Images by iMarin 17 / 1,270 Gambling background Stock Photos by Artisticco 13 / 681. Choose from Gambling Addiction stock illustrations from iStock. Find high-quality royalty-free vector images that you won't find anywhere else.
Tobey Maguire
Remember him from Spiderman? The soft-spoken, not very outgoing actor that seemed so sweet and innocent? Yes, he’s an addicted gambler. In fact, he was sued back in 2011 when he was caught participating in an illegal poker ring that runs in the multi-millions. His addictions have not been good for him, but he’s been very outspoken about them and his love of playing poker on many occasions.
Shannon Elizabeth
If you don’t recognize her name by itself, you definitely recognize her face from “American Pie”. She is such an avid poker player that there are rumors in Hollywood that she runs an illegal poker ring from her home. It’s not been proven but that’s how much she loves to gamble, and some people would consider that a bit of an issue if it really has caused her to begin an illegal gambling ring.
Charles Barkley
He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest NBA players of all time, and that’s why we love him. However, he’s admitted to the press that he has a gambling addiction. He spoke of how his addiction to betting and gambling has cost him more than $10 million to date. You’d think that would be enough to make him realize it is not a profitable adventure to stick with, but he’s still at it. It’s addictive.
Ray Romano
Everybody does love Raymond, but they do not love that he suffers from a serious gambling addiction. He once opened up and stated that the character he played in “Men of a Certain Age,” who was overcoming a gambling addiction was based on his own personal life struggles. No one would have guessed that he had such a gambling problem, but he does. Well, he did; it’s assumed that he’s overcome his issues or at least worked through the most difficult aspect.
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Gladys Knight
She is one of the most famous songstresses in the world, and she was addicted to gambling. When she spoke of her addiction in her autobiography, many people were shocked. She doesn’t seem like the betting type, the gambling type, but she is, and she was. She battled her issues for more than 10 years, and she seeks help for her addictions regularly when temptation strikes.
Ben Affleck
Did you know that aside from the fact that his marriage is over and he’s facing allegations of cheating on soon-to-be ex-wife Jennifer Garner with the nanny, Ben Affleck also lived with a gambling addiction? He went to rehab back in 2001 for his gambling and alcohol addictions, and while we have to assume that he’s all right, we can’t be positive.
Michael Jordan
We have some athletes already on this list; some of them very good athletes that will be remembered in the very distant future. These are men whose names everyone knows and will never forget; yet they battle serious personal demons. Michael Jordan is the most famous NBA star of all time. And he has a gambling addiction. Did you know that when he retired back in the early 90s from the game, it was rumored that his retirement was a result of a serious gambling problem that he had back then? We don’t know what happened to him, how he overcame his issues and how he got back on track, but it’s been said his gambling issue was very serious.
Michael Phelps
He’s an Olympic gold medalist and a phenomenal swimmer, and many people fear that he has a gambling addiction. It’s not a big secret that he spends a great deal of time around a table betting, but rumor has it that his ‘fun’ hobby is now more of a dangerous addiction than anything else. Given his recent issues in the press, too, it might drive him to further lose himself in the process.
Charlie Sheen
You know, I’m going to be very honest here and state that if he has a gambling problem, it’s probably the least of his problems. This particular actor is one of the most crazed actors with some of the biggest personal issues I can recall. If he’s gambling, at least he’s not doing anything even more inappropriate. Not that we condone gambling. His ex-wife Denise Richards once told officials in court documents that Sheen spent – at that time – around $20,000 per week on sports bets.
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Approximately 10 million people in the United States live with a gambling addiction problem. A gambling addiction occurs when a person continues to gamble despite negative effects that may impact their finances, relationships, or well-being. Gambling addiction involves compulsions to seek out gambling, betting, and wagering, and the end result can be devastating for the gambler as well as his or her family.1
People who struggle with a gambling or shopping problem often hide their issues out of shame and a desire for secrecy.
This often delays recovery and treatment and allows a gambling addiction to lead to other serious effects, including loss of jobs, failed relationships, and severe debt. Problem gambling is often associated with mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. Gambling problems don’t just affect mental health. People who have struggled with gambling benefit greatly from treatment and often also need family counseling and financial coaching to fully recover.
Christine’s Story
“You have to do the work in all areas of your recovery, including your finances. I chose to not do all the work necessary for a well-rounded recovery. Even though I was no longer actively gambling, my financial and legal troubles told me I still needed to work with a gambling addiction specialist. After my troubles occurred, I worked with a specialist for a year while I went through the legal mess I created.
“Now that I have reached eight and a half years in recovery from gambling addiction and alcohol abuse, I know it is my job, my duty, to be of recovery service to others. Life today is good!”
— Read Christine C.’s story and more at www.HeroesInRecovery.com
The Cost of Problem Gambling in Your Community
Studies have shown that more than $6 billion has been lost each year to gambling addictions. This problem is far-reaching and can cause both individuals and companies to panic and act in ways they would not normally act.1
Gambling addictions also place a severe hardship on prison systems, public assistance programs, and legal systems. There are many consequences of gambling addictions that result in community economic costs.
Some community gambling addiction dangers include:
- Increased rates of unemployment
- Bankruptcy
- Fraud and check forgery
- Forced home sales
- Increased alcohol and drug abuse
- Poor mental and physical health of individuals and families
How Gambling Impacts the Individual and Family
While the addicted person will definitely suffer during a gambling addiction, that person’s family will also face challenges. The stress that the problem gambler experiences may cause irritable behavior, secrecy, and arguments. Calls from creditors and bill collectors erode relationships. Financial strains impact all family members, and strained relationships make the experience difficult for even extended family members, friends, and colleagues.
The children of gambling addicts also suffer in many ways, including:
- Emotional neglect and abandonment (and even physical abandonment) when one parent is consumed in an addiction.
- Stressed and irritable parents may lash out at children angrily, and even if they do not, these children can sense their parents’ tension.
- Children of people with gambling addiction are at higher risk of experiencing their own addictions later in life.
If You Can’t Stop Gambling, Your Life Will Be Forever Changed
The effects of a gambling addiction are often quite clear. A large number of people who engage in compulsive gambling will use credit cards and debit cards to pay casinos or internet gambling organizations. If you engage in problem gambling, you will most likely incur debt, damage your relationships, and lose sight of your goals in life.
There are many ways that an untreated gambling addiction can change your life.
- Family problems are very common. Almost all compulsive gamblers around the world have issues at home with their family because of their addiction.
- Financial devastation is unavoidable. People with a gambling addiction will go to extreme measures to get money to gamble. Many people eventually resort to stealing, taking out large loans, or other desperate means that are out-of-character.
- Job loss is very high among gambling addicts. Gambling addiction may lead you to miss work, or come to work distracted. Gambling addictions will interfere with work relations, promotions, and employment.
Bad Gambling Photos Pictures
No matter how bad a gambling addiction has become, it is possible to turn things around. Call us for help today at 269-280-4673.