Powerball Hype Hard To Ignore For Gambling Addicts
(CBS) -- You can't win if you don't play, that's a slogan of lottery games. Right now, lots of people are trying to win that billion and a half dollar Powerball jackpot.
CBS 2's Brad Edwards shows us how to keep chasing a dream from turning into a nightmare.
Edwards spoke with a recovering compulsive gambler.
"As this is coming to a crescendo…$1.5 billion…somebody in theory out there is going all in," he said. "This is their Hail Mary….What happens to them on Thursday when they wake up and they don't win?"
He knows going all in. His game of choice was craps and he estimates he lost $100,000 over his 18-year career. Now he's in recovery, step 12 of 12 in Gamblers anonymous and starting over.
"I rent the basement from my mother," he said.
He is fully employed and paying off his debts, but is concerned the Powerball frenzy could lead to re-entry, for him or anyone.
"There are things that we can do to help," he said.
After the interview, the man went to go run a gamblers anonymous meeting.
On the tab "Play Responsibly" of the Powerball website, you're taken to another page that includes a link to the National Council on Problem Gambling website, www.ncpgambling.org. Trouble is, that page is broken. We're told the site has been down since Sunday and it could be the work of a hacker."
If you have a gambling problem, the group's hotline is working. That number is 800-522-4700.
Another resource is Gamblers Anonymous. Just visit gachicago.org for information about meetings throughout the area.
