Compulsive Gambler's Guilt Affects Their Gambling Addiction Recovery

When a compulsive gambler is in recovery, feeling guilty is one of the toughest areas to resolve for some people. When a gambler finally makes the conscious decision to stop gambling, reality sets in for the first time in a long time. When they take finally take stock in themselves they see all the damage they caused. Some people stop right before it's too late and they have a few assets left. Then the compulsive gambler thinks they're in control and once again go back to gambling. The next time the destruction is twice as worse. The feelings of guilt increase until they finally are willing to face they have a gambling problem.

Through various discussions with compulsive gamblers, I found a majority felt guilty and ashamed about the following:

* Feeling guilty you lied to your family and friends

* Feeling ashamed that your family and friends know you have a problem gambling

* Feeling guilty that friends and family may never trust you again

* Feeling guilty and ashamed knowing how much money you lost that could have been better spent.

* Feeling guilty you didn't spend enough time with your children.

* Feeling guilty about your self destructive behavior

* Feeling guilty you didn't go to relatives and friends events (birthdays, graduations etc.)

In time people will forgive the compulsive gambler, but can the compulsive gambler forgive them selves?

Friends and family will come around if the compulsive gambler keeps their word from now on. Once the gambler tells you they stop gambling, they must stick to it. If not they will lose credibility. Trust is very important both for the compulsive gambler and for the family and friends. People have to learn to trust compulsive gamblers all over again. In time they will if the compulsive gambler is willing to stop gambling.

Even though a compulsive gambler made numerous mistakes, they can recover and they can move forward. It's human nature to learn from your mistakes. No one is going to give the compulsive gambler the death penalty for gambling. A lot of gamblers feel this way when their world comes crumbling down.

Take the time to improve your quality of life and the compulsive gambler's feelings of guilt will diminish over time.

Mr. Howard Keith has an extensive background in dealing with compulsive gamblers, relatives and friends of gamblers and teenage gamblers. Mr. Keith believes there are many alternatives to aid in the recovery of a gambling addiction verses a twelve step program. A large percentage of his emails were from compulsive gamblers looking for an alternative to Gamblers Anonymous and twelve step programs. Gamblers Anonymous also helps a significant number of people each year but there is a large percentage that they are unable to reach.

For more information on gambling addiction and stop gambling you can check out: I Stopped Gambling So Can You http://www.istoppedgambling.com/

Teenage Gambling Addiction website: [http://www.teenage-gambling-addiction.org/]

The US Gambling Law & How It Affects US Players

In all things legal, there's no substitution for the advice of a qualified lawyer. However, a general idea of where the law stands on gambling and poker is a good place to start if you have concerns about playing poker for money online.

The first thing you should know about US gambling laws is this: recent events have brought a lot of attention to online wagering and the passing of the Safe Pot Act, which included an important statute about online betting, will make sports betting and most online wagers involving money transfers, illegal.

The second thing you should know about gambling and poker: there is a big difference between something like sports betting and gambling in a skills game like poker or bridge. There's also a sizeable difference between betting in roulette or on a slot machine. As yet, these different forms of gambling have not been treated in the same way by the law; a ruling that applies to sports betting doesn't necessarily apply - at least not yet - to online poker.

The situation is still very confusing though.

One of the leading gambling law authorities in the US had this to say before the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006: "No United States federal statute or regulation explicitly prohibits Internet gambling, either domestically or abroad." However, the Wire Act contains the following subsection: "Whoever being engaged in the business of betting or wagering knowingly uses a wire communication facility for the transmission in interstate or foreign commerce of bets or wagers or information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest, or for the transmission of a wire communication which entitles the recipient to receive money or credit as a result of bets or wagers, or for information assisting in the placing of bets or wagers, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."

It's fairly easy to see why this statue, the Wire Act, was most often citied as the law that makes online gambling, specifically sports betting, illegal. Yet, even this important statute doesn't explicitly state that online gambling, let alone online poker playing, is illegal. The wording of the statue suggests that it only applies to the individual involved in the "business of betting or wagering" not to the individual better or, in poker, to the individual player. See the case of Jay Cohen for more.

In 2006, the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act changed the situation for online sports betters and, probably, for poker players as well. The act looks set to specifically target the transfer of money in the betting world.

Free games and forms of gambling that don't involve the transfer of money will be unaffected by the bill, but just about every other form of gambling is, although it's still considered unlikely that individual bet makers, let alone poker players involved wagers, will be targeted by state or federal governments.

Most of the attention in the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and the Wire Act is given to money transfer. As per the 2006 Act: "No person engaged in the business of betting or wagering may knowingly accept any money transfers in any way from a person participating in unlawful Internet gambling...[which]...includes credit cards, electronic fund transfers, and even paper checks. But it is limited to Internet gambling businesses, not mere players."

The expectation is that all online transfers or transactions of money will require participants to provide valid and verifiable ID so that the transaction can be tracked and assessed.

When it comes to funding or withdrawing from an online poker account, for example, with a credit card, check, or wire transfer, the 2006 Act will probably make things more complicated for the player. Ultimately, it will depend on how readily the new laws are enforced and how readily the individuals sites agree to comply.

Playing poker online has not been considered illegal either by law or by consensus, but it's important for anyone with concerns to consult with a lawyer for more information about how this new bill, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, will affect the situation. Everyone should stay informed of developments that may change the status of either online gambling in general or online poker playing. The Act hasn't been signed yet but it will be and the regulations it proposes will go into affect by the beginning of 2007. You should also check the laws for the state in which you live.

For more information on the legal status of online poker, check out this great resource: http://www.playwinningpoker.com/online/poker/legal/law.html

Valentino Viccetzar is well renown article writer. He has been writing for many years about gambling and casino related themes. He is currently hosting his articles on US Gambling Law [http://www.pokerrouge.com] and others at [http://www.pokerrouge.com]