"Gambling Online"

Some people like to gamble once in a while. Others use it as a hobby. But there are still others who are addicted to gambling. Those who are addicted to gambling now have available to them a new form of gambling. It’s called Internet gambling and it is just as addictive as traditional forms of gambling. You can look at the state of Iowa for an example of how Internet gambling can fuel the gambling addiction. There, casinos are appearing everywhere. So, as the number of Internet gamblers grows along with the number of Internet gambling sites, so does the number of problem gamblers. In fact the incredible growth of poker sites as this craze sweeps the country is of particular concern. As the number of Internet gambling sites increases, it is contributing to the swelling numbers of gambling addicts. Evidence of this is that so far in 2005 alone, close to 2000 people called the Iowa gambling hotline. This represents a 43 percent increase over last year. This situation may be underscored by the fact that at one gambling website alone, 69,000 people were found playing Texas Hold ‘em. This is currently the most popular form of poker worldwide.

Gambling over the Internet, unfortunate, supplies an even easier access to gambling venues. Experience has shown that having an easier access means that the number of young people gambling is on the rise as well. The results are that as younger people start to gamble, more young people with gambling addictions start to appear. To put it more clearly, problem gamblers are no longer simply a factor that can be associated with the forty-something crowd. There are help centers fortunately, that have been set up to serve people with gambling addictions. In addition to the state’s help line, in Iowa alone there are ten gambling treatment programs. If you are one of these in need, or if you know someone who is seeking help for a gambling problem, the number to call for to receive help is 1-800-BUTS-OFF.