"Unfortunately, gambling and winning often don't go hand in hand." Pete Rose – My prison without bars. Gambling should be a recreational pastime and for many people it is just that. For about 2% to 3% of Americans it is a major problem in their lives. They are pathological gamblers; some studies indicate that they spend around $5 billion a year on gambling. When gambling becomes a problem, it impacts that person's social, emotional and financial life. Legalized gambling in America is creating a widespread problem, pathological gamblers cannot resist the irresponsible urge to gamble, even if the impact could ruin their marriage, their job and their financial security. The sad thing here is that a person can easily hide the fact that they are losing control of themselves when it comes to gambling, at least for a while. When family or friends finally realize what's happening. The gambler has a real addiction. There are several causes of pathological gambling, a particularly common cause among gambling addicts is depression. The gambler will use gambling as a way to cope or hide from their feelings or depression. While gambling they may get lost in the game and drift away. Gambling can fill a void in a person's life: Loneliness, job loss or job dissatisfaction, a poor social life, or an empty nest can all play a role in gambling addiction. Many pathological gamblers have a distorted view of their financial situation. I recently interviewed a peer with a gambling problem, she said her finances were in ruins, she told me all she needed was one big win to get out of debt and be happy. It never occurred to her that gambling was the main reason her finances were in disarray. You admit... halfway through the paper... to Health, February 2001. Web. March 1, 2014."Biological basis for problem gambling." Gambling Recovery .org. Np, nd Web. April 04, 2014. Grant, J. E., Brewer, J. A., & Potenza, M. N. (2006). The neurobiology of substance and behavioral addictions. Central nervous system spectra, 11(12), 924-930. Network. April 03, 2014.Blum, K., Cull, J.G., Braverman, E.R., & Comings, D.E. (1996). Reward deficiency syndrome. American Scientist, 84, 123-1 45. Web.03 April 2014.Dackis, C., & O'Brien, C. (2005). Neurobiology of addiction: Treatment and public policy implications. Nature Neuroscience, 8, 1431-1436. Web.03 April 2014.University of Granada, "Gambling addicts present abnormalities of brain function that affect their decision-making ability". Everyday science. Science Daily, November 5, 2013. Web. March 01, 2014.2013 AGA Casino Entertainment Survey. Rep. American Gaming Association, 2013. Web. April 2. 2014.