She's Rolling The Dice

Rise of Women and Gambling Addiction

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini
Dating Tips and Advice

I think my friend may have a gambling addiction. The thing is, she's a woman, and you never hear about women with gambling problems; it's always men. She has a good job and the perfect family, but she spends more and more time online and in casinos spending money. Even though she makes good money at her job, I'm worried she's starting to lose a lot. I'm thinking about having an intervention with her soon. Are gambling addictions common among women?

Sincerely,

She Can't Stop Playing

Dear She Can't Stop Playing,

As a relationship expert, I definitely see a rise in gambling among women. There are many reasons why more and more women are gambling than ever before, but one thing is for sure--gambling addiction is not just a man's problem.

Reasons women are gambling:

*More women are giving themselves the pressures that men have always had -- and then some. With this pressure comes a need for an outlet. Gambling is just one of many outlets women and men use to express their pressure and stress.

*There are more venues for gambling than ever before. Online gambling, Texas Hold 'Em Poker as mainstream and even the theme and activity for nationwide school fundraising events, and Las Vegas Casinos and hotels as the newest family stop since Disneyland and Disneyworld.

* Gambling is more recognized as an addiction as addiction cures and rehabilitation becomes big business.

What is addiction?

Addiction is a serious medical condition, and it's causes and cures are complicated and still widely unknown. That children are not the catalyst to move addicted mothers to cure their addictions speaks to the severity of addiction. Any widely held beliefs that children would be a catalyst for such cures must be based on a poll of non-addicted mothers or people who don't understand addicts. Many mothers are not able to cure their addictions during their pregnancies, their childbirths or their children's lives. In fact, many loving family members throw up their hands and shed tears over their addicted family members. Love is not what cures addiction and it is not what causes it.

Addicts have a different chemical make-up than people who are not addicts and methodone programs which have proven effective practice the substitution of a lesser harmful drug for a more harmful drug, and then a weaning off of that drug. Until addicts are recognized as people with different chemical make-ups than non-addicts, and are treated differently, they will continue to run up against well meaning family members and friends who don't understand why if the person loved them, they'd quit using.

Until addicts are recognized as people with different chemical make-ups than non-addicts, and are treated differently, they will continue to run up against well meaning family members and friends who don't understand why if the person loved them, they'd quit using.

Gambling addicts:

Gambling addicts will use any opportunity to exercise their addictive behavior. March Madness can very well be a rich opportunity for gamblers to get into trouble, and yes, that means negatively impacting work productivity, personal health and relationships. Online gambling is the same deal. Addiction is an illness, and if you have a gambling addiction, you stay away from gambling opportunities the same way as if you had allergies, you'd stay away from anything that made your allergy flare up. It's really pretty simple.

March Madness and gambling in the workplace:

There are instances when gambling opportunities arise at work. And they do. Just like drinking alcohol opportunities arise at business meals, parties, and events. The responsibility, however, is not the employer's. It is the individual's. However, if an employee becomes unproductive -- regardless of the reason -- the employer may fire the employee.

This doesn't have to become complicated. Addiction and other health issues are personal. Productivity is business. Keeping the boundaries straight will avoid any complications.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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