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More Women Becoming Addicted To Gambling

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Jul 29, 2010 9:31 pm US/Eastern

More Women Becoming Addicted To Gambling

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― With the spread of casino gambling, studies show that more and more women are becoming gambling addicts.

The Pittsburgh region is no exception.

"It allows them to escape just to completely forget about all of the problems that they're experiencing and just be in that moment with that machine," Amanda Reszkowski, a therapist, said.

But women are becoming addicted to slot machines and inviting ruin into their lives.

"I lost all my savings – I spent all my savings. I went into negative bank balances and I couldn't pay my bills," one woman told KDKA-TV.

A group of problem women gamblers meet for mutual support and the hope of freeing themselves from a life of isolation and despair.

Their therapist, Amanda Reszkowski, says women of every age and stripe can be at risk.

"It's every woman. Your neighbor, your mom, your sister, your friend – you'd be very surprised," she said. "There's not one demographic and there's many at-risk populations – college students, the elderly."

It happens to women like "Cheryl" who once only played the lottery, but soon became entranced by the casino and couldn't stay away.

"I would be going there without even knowing I'd be going there practically … the car would just drive itself there," she said.

"Gabriella," who chased back her losses at the casino, got in deeper and deeper until she had bankrupted herself and nearly lost her family.

"I was gong to hit that jackpot, I was going to pay off all my debt, get out of trouble and just start my life over and it never happened," she said.

Now these women are beginning the long climb toward getting out of debt and winning back their self-respect.

"All I want to say is if there's any women out there that feel alone – you're not alone," a gambling addict said. "There's groups out there. You don't have to be trapped in that place."

There is help available through gamblers anonymous and other support groups.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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