The Gambling Epidemic Is So Much Worse Than We Ever Imagined

My neighbor killed himself last night. I had no idea he was a gambler. Neither did his family.

When I walked out of the building to take out the trash there was a police car with the lights on. No sound, just the red and blue lights under the bright morning sun. It was eerie.

One of the officers was talking to a shattered woman who was crying her heart out. On a second glance it turned out to be Ana, his wife.

He was the second person I knew who committed suicide because he just couldn’t stand the shame, pressure, and loss from gambling.

And by the looks of it, it’s not going to get better any time soon.

By now gambling has turned from entertainment to an epidemic with dire, sometimes fatal consequences. And nobody cares. They’re just collateral victims.