Will compulsive gamblers eventually turn to crime?

Will compulsive gamblers eventually turn to crime?

Marc Kern (Addiction Expert, Director of Addiction Alternatives) gives expert video advice on: How big of a problem is gambling addiction?; What causes addictive gambling?; When addicted gamblers are losing, do they actually believe they'll win? and more...

Crime, in all the addictions we're talking about and in particular in gambling, is definitely an end point. It is definitely the default, the bottom line when all else fails and you've dug yourself a deep hole financially and there's no other option. That doesn't mean that there aren't certain people who grow up in environments where crime is more rampant, where it goes the other direction. But most people do not turn to crime to support their habit. But at some point, when you've dug yourself a deep enough hole and it looks really hard to get out, you're going to do whatever it takes to remedy it. People say they don't understand why they do this. It doesn't make any sense. They've lost all this money. That doesn't make sense. What they're implying is they're talking to the individual from the thinking standpoint. But what's happening is now no longer up here. It's down here in the heart. They're trying to make themselves feel good. It has nothing to do with the logic of thinking morally. It's not a thinking process at that point. It's all about more of an basic animal need to feel okay again.