Category Archives: Gambling

I peruse reader comments with a morsel of Morton's (grain of salt), mostly because I find them agenda-based, veering off point, guilty of turning exceptions into rules and then taking the false premises and embarking on soliloquies about them.

Occasionally, though, there is one worth pondering.

Last week, Tom Moriarty, a faithful reader of The Day and theday.com who is measured and fair, wrote the following in response to this gambling column:

"Maybe this time next year you can write a column on the many lives and marriages that have been ruined by addiction to gambling. Gambling is as addictive as alcohol and drugs and is a lot more expensive."

We started this gambling column because sports betting has become legalized in Connecticut. I'm not necessarily sure gambling will become more prevalent because of it (millions and millions have gambled since even before Al Capone), but it's now legal. Gambling is part of our DNA here with two major casinos. It's news, regardless of whether we agree with it.

Still, I respect Moriarty's words. DraftKings and FanDuel have made gambling easier than ever. Not just on the games, but everything down to the coin toss before the football game. Gambling addictions are very likely to increase.

And before we start discussing point spreads again, I want Moriarty and everyone else to know that nobody else is more aware of gambling addiction. I've seen it and its tentacles. And it's sure not reflective of the fun we're trying to have here every week with futures and best bets.

But I also hope that we can approach the state's new forays with DraftKings and FanDuel with senses of proportion and balance. Gambling can also be fun and provide rooting interests that previously didn't exist. The overwhelming majority of gamblers are not going to develop addictions and will dabble in it appropriately.

The intention of this column and the entire gambling page are rooted in reader enjoyment and participation in the gambling process. As with everything else, perils exist. Just know that we understand what gambling has done to people and families.

Here are the week's football best bets:

Vickie Fulkerson: Buccaneers (-9.5 over Washington Football Team).

"A quarterback duel between Tom Brady (coming off a bye week) and, wait for it, Washington's Taylor Heinicke. Brady leads in career starts 307-8."

Ned Griffen: Clemson (41 over UConn). "I may go 0-for on my best bets this year but, dammit, I'm going to keep swinging away until I finally hit on the week's most obscene line."

Chuck Banning: Titans (-3 over New Orleans). "Just call me Captain Obvious ... which in a way scares me."

Dave Davis: UConn (+41 vs. Clemson). "The Huskies won't win this game. It won't be competitive. But I might never get 40.5 points again so I'm taking them. I mean, they could lose by 40 and I still win."

Gavin Keefe: Cardinals (-10.5 over Carolina). "Given my losing streak, let's call this my worst bet."

Mikey D: Saints (+3 vs. Titans). I try to make my best bets about lines, not games. This line is absurd. Think about it: Tennessee, without Derrick Henry, goes on the road last week and throws the Rams down a flight of stairs. It comes home this week and plays battered New Orleans and its quarterback problems, potential injury to Alvin Kamara and home loss last week to Atlanta.

So why are the Saints only a three-point underdog? This line should be six or seven. They are begging you to bet Tennessee. And when the public all bets one way, the opposite outcome usually happens. It did last week when bettors threw it in on Wake Forest and Michigan State. They both lost.

So bet the Saints with both hands. It doesn't have to make sense. It's gambling.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro

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We get the tentacles of gambling ... but we're just having a little fun - theday.com

Dave Yeager, a veteran who fought gambling addiction, created a podcast to help other veterans overcome their challenges.

CLEVELAND Gambling is about twice as likely in the veteran population than the general population, according to a top expert at the Cleveland VA Medical Center. One veteran - who received help at the facility - created a podcast to connect with and support others.

"I'm an 11-year veteran of the Army who actually fell into my gambling addiction while I was on active duty, in the Republic of Korea right after 9/11," podcaster, counselor and father Dave Yeager said.

Things were tense right after the terror attacks, and he said he was having arguments with his wife. One night, he couldn't sleep. To keep busy, he visited the casino-style slot room on the base.

"The next thing I realized, all the stress I was under - all of the fear I was having, just melted," he said. "I immediately knew I wanted more."

The addiction took hold. He found himself in the hospital, fearing he would harm himself and lose his family.

"It actually got me kicked out of the Army and then post-Army to the point where I needed to seek help," he said.

He found the Cleveland VA - once in 2007 and again in 2020, when he said he relapsed.

"It was an intensive psychotherapy five-week program and I left there with a much better understanding of myself, better understanding of gambling addiction and a much better understanding of how to keep myself in recovery," he said. "Once they started to get to the deeper issue that was underneath the manifestation of the addiction itself, then the addiction itself becomes less of the beast."

In the early 1970s, the Cleveland VA became the first to develop a problem gambling treatment program in the world. The director of the program is Dr. Heather Chapman.

"It actually started when a few guys from the gamblers anonymous program came to the head of the hospital and said, 'You need to help us. We have people coming to the program and we don't know what to do because they're very desperate. They're in debt, they're considering suicide, they're considering an illegal activity, their marriages are falling apart,'" Dr. Chapman said. "So he took a chance and said let's take a look at this. And because of that program and because of his work ... it started this field even before it was a recognized diagnosis."

Dr. Chapman said veterans face somewhat of a perfect storm.

"One of the difficulties of the military right now is there is on overseas bases very easily accessible gambling, so you're giving new military members access to gambling at a young age and so it primes them early," she said. "Veterans organizations like VFWs do have gambling readily available right in their building, and so I think those fraternal organizations continue to create or be there when people felt the need to create a connection."

Dr. Chapman said the warning signs of gambling addiction can be challenging to spot, unlike some other addictions.

"Sometimes people think there's an affair going on or something else happening," she said. "Gambling is unfortunately very easy to hide."

But the tell-tale sign might not be surprising.

"The biggest is money ... money is missing, money problems despite adequate income," she said. "Having difficulty keeping up with school or work and just generally keeping up with life. Definitely the biggest difference between other addictions and gambling is significant financial issues. It's unfortunately something that care provider and I think us as a population we don't talk about money and we don't want to have those discussions about money. Frequently we'll find people who have gambling issues are in charge of money in the household. People even very close to them frequently no idea this was happening because the finances were run by that person who has the gambling problem."

Legalized sports betting also poses concern for experts like Dr. Chapman.

"Ohio is still trying to figure that out - the sports betting piece - but we're surrounded by sports betting states so you literally just have to just cross over the state line and say go to West Virginia, Michigan or Pennsylvania and you'll be able to make a bet in some places just on your cell phone," she said.

Dr. Chapman said a key part of recovery is for those struggling to connect with those who've been through it - a topic she spoke about on Yeager's podcast.

"Dave worked with us - in one way getting grounded in his own recovery and then has been working with other people, giving back. He's been a real strong advocate working with us," she said.

But Yeagers efforts extend far beyond the microphone.

"He's even become a gambling counselor, he's gotten certifications, he's on the road to becoming a certified social worker - a Master's degree in social work - he really wants to work in the field, so it's a lovely thing," she said. "The help that somebody like he can give is beyond anything that I could do because he's walked in those shoes. I think it's the combination of that plus the science that I can help deliver that is the perfect combination."

For Yeager, it's not just about helping others; it's about helping himself.

"The more I pay it forward, the more I stay strong in my own recovery because it's the more I stay connected with how important this really is," he said.

You can listen to the podcast here.

For more information about problem gambling and how to help someone you love, you can visit beforeyoubet.org or the Ohio Problem Betting Helpline at 1-800-589-9966. Also, veterans can call the Veterans' Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.

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After getting help with gambling addiction, veteran creates podcast to support others - 10TV

Responding to the mayor of Jeannette, who wrote the letter Rich get richer through gambling: Despite mountains of evidence of the negative impact of gambling, Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell, with the support of our Republican General Assembly, legalized slot machines and casinos. The property tax reduction was the suppository to seal the reprehensible deal. The savvy gambling kingpins made fools out of those ignoring the evidence and set up our citizens to be losers.

Gambling only recycles wealth and doesnt create new wealth. In order to keep growing their spoils, the gambling interests need to continue to seek more and more ways to snare the gullible into believing that they will get something for nothing when the reality is that the vast majority will get nothing for something.

Gamblers get to pay the subliminal taxes without credit for doing so and make these bookies wealthy while sucking money out of the legitimate and wealth-creating economy.

Will we ever have elected officials who have the integrity to shut off the legalized thievery?

Dianne M. Berlin

Penryn, Pa.

The writer is vice chair of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling.

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Letter to the editor: Citizens the losers with legalized gambling - TribLIVE

NOVEMBER 16 Malay MailsreportKedahs 4D outlet ban a step down slippery slope for Malaysia and investors, say economists is the latest salvo at Kedahs ban on numbers forecast operators.

The economists reportedly warned that the move should not be seen only as a state issue, but one that would have ramifications on federal coffers at a time revenue was shrinking, on investor confidence in the middle of economic downturn, and which would fuel illegal activities.

Gambling is highly profitable for corporations and governments. The past decade has seen unprecedented growth in commercial gambling.

The prevalence of problem gambling in different countries across the world was estimated to vary between 0-1 per cent and 5-8 per cent in 2019.

Revenue from advertising alone has increased substantially, driven by gambling in the home and on mobile devices. In 2018 19, the total revenue for the UK gambling industry was 143 billion (RM80 billion), with 56 billion lost by online gamblers in 2018. (See Lindsay Blanket al, Interventions to reduce the public health burden of gambling-related harms: a mapping review (2020) Lancet Public Health availablehere.)

But there is also growing recognition that gambling is a source of serious and unevenly distributed harm. This recognition has led to demands for public health strategies at the local, national, and international levels.

Gambling affects, or at least has the potential to negatively affect, physical health, psychological health, and the social functioning of the people who gamble and others around them.

According to Lindsay Blank, various terms have been used to describe gambling-related harms. These terms all refer to a pattern of excessive gambling with impaired control over gambling behaviour, substantial negative consequences deriving from this impaired control, and persistence in excessive gambling despite these negative consequences.

Gambling disorder is the term in the WHO International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) since 1975. It was included in the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1980.

Despite this early recognition and substantial bodies of research from ensuing decades indicating the extent of problem gambling, it is only in the past few years that the WHO has begun to focus attention on gambling and gambling-related harm.

With few exceptions, member states have not, to date, formally addressed gambling within a public health framework. (M.W. Abbott, Gambling and gambling-related harm: recent World Health Organisation initiatives (2020) Public Health availablehere.)

In the UK, increasing concern about the harms associated with gambling has led to Public Health England (PHE) conducting an evidence review of the health aspects of gambling-related harm to inform action on prevention and treatment in May 2018.

The UK has one of the largest gambling markets in the world. There was a need to fully understand the extent to which gambling is a public health issue, for whom it is a problem and the extent of the possible harms.

The review, among others, includes an economic analysis of the estimated annual economic burden of harmful gambling which is approximately 1.27 billion (expressed in 2019 to 2020 prices), with 95 per cent confidence that the precise estimate is between 841 million and 2.12 billion.

According to the review also, half of the estimated economic burden (647.2 million) is a direct cost to the government, which is likely to be underestimated due to a lack of available evidence.

This means that some identified harms have been only costed partially (financial, health, employment and education, crime), while others have not been costed at all (cultural harms and impact on relationships). (Gambling-related harms evidence review: summary (2021) availablehere.)

This government-led review in the UK demonstrates the growing awareness of the extent of gambling-related harm which calls for the adoption of formal legislative and public health policies that address the major determinants of gambling-related harms.

There have even been calls for the establishment of an international coalition to champion and drive change, with suggestions that include a WHO initiative with reference to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to assist in promoting this approach.

Gambling needs to be considered within a public health framework.

In Malaysia, unfortunately, research into gambling is limited and there is no coherent strategy to tackle gambling-related harms. So write Balan Rathakrishnan and Sanju George in a recently published paper. (Gambling in Malaysia: an overview (2020) availablehere.)

The former is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Sabah Malaysia (UMS).

The lack of research is of particular concern. It remains to be seen who will initiate an analysis to examine the prevalence of gambling and related harms in Malaysia.

Perhaps Parliament.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.

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Who will initiate an analysis to examine the prevalence of gambling and related harms in Malaysia? Hafiz Hassan - Malay Mail

Many casino operators are looking to penetrate the market and establish themselves in an increasingly competitive space.

And so, it wouldnt be farfetched to think that this particular industry has captured the attention of the government. In particular, the Gambling Commission has been looking into the online gambling space and has introduced some new rules and regulations in an effort to protect the safety and integrity of both the players and the casinos. Naturally, these new introductions to the legislations surrounding online gambling will impact the future of the growth of online gambling in the United Kingdom.

Ultimately, its the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) that oversees any kind of regulation of legitimate gambling institutions in Great Britain. The commission was first established in 2005 as a response to evolving trends in the industry and the boom of the gambling tourism market. Essentially, the gambling was founded as a body that was designed to ensure the safety of casino-goers and casino operators in order to create a fundamentally wholesome gambling environment. The commission did this by instituting strict regulations and thoroughly vetting companies and operators before granting them official licenses to offer their services in the United Kingdom. Out of most of the regulatory gambling bodies in the world, the UKGC is known to have some of the highest standards and requirements. Any failure on the part of an operator to fulfill these standards or submit to these rules could result in either hefty fines or them losing the license altogether.

Over the past few years, there was a tangible growth in the online gambling space. As technology became more readily available and as high-speed internet became more accessible to a vast majority of people, online gambling surged to heights that it had never experienced as an industry before. Slow evolutions of the industry over time has made the online gambling space a lot more palatable in the eyes of the consumers. Some of the benefits of shifting to an online gambling space include anonymity, convenience, ease of use, and just the overall accessibility of online gambling platforms. These days, is virtually capable of playing a high-stakes poker game with people all around the world without having to leave the comforts of their own living room. This is the kind of convenience that online gambling has been able to provide.

Fast-forward to 2020 with a global pandemic that forced people to quarantine themselves within their own homes, many private citizens turned to the internet for entertainment and leisure to help pass the time. Naturally, many of the traditional casino-goers and patrons who frequented land-based casinos now found themselves interacting on online forums and platforms like Casinofy. This is a huge attributor to the growth of the online gambling industry over the past couple of years. This has triggered the UKGC to take a deeper look into its institutions systems and policies in an effort to cater to this growing market.

Back in 2019, the commission already took steps to implement stricter age verification for online gambling platforms. That meant that online casinos were forced to take stricter measures in verifying the age of their users before allowing them to make deposits or even to play a single game. Another popular policy that was introduced by the UK Gambling Commission was the ban on the use of credit cards as a form of payment for deposits. This was a policy that was put in place as a response to the growth of gambling addiction problems around the region.

In the years to come, its doubtful that the UKGC will take a more lenient approach in terms of its conduct and regulatory service. There are speculations that betting restrictions might even be imposed on certain casino games. Currently, there are hundreds of licensed casino operators around the UK that offer online services to the general public. And its been noted that many of these operators have already been forced to pay significant fines for failing to meet the standards and regulations that have been imposed by the UKGC. However, the UK is still a place that is rife for growth when it comes to the online gambling market. Many investors are still eager to penetrate a market that is full of potential.

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The Future of the UK Online Gambling Industry - Business MattersBusiness Matters

08:5615 Nov

A popular and respected doctor in the English town of Portsmouth has been jailed for more than three years after embezzling over 1million to fund his online gambling habit.

45-year-old Rumi Chhapia made 65 transfers totalling 1,133,704.50 to himself from a healthcare fund over a 41-day period in 2020, using the money to pay off his debts playing slot machines and roulette.

The money was taken from Portsmouth Primary Care Alliance Limited (PPCA), a collection of GP practices that Dr. Chhapia helped to found.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard that father-of-one Chhapia gambled more than 2.5 million online, winning back only $1.2million.

Matthew Lawson, prosecuting, stated that the well-respected doctor made a full confession to taking the money from the PPCA. He had run into financial trouble and tried to repair his finances through online gambling but only proceeded to lose more.

The defendant, described by the judge as a man of good character, was a director of the PPCA and accessed the funds unhindered during six weeks of madness when a colleague was signed off sick.

Mr. Lawson stated, however, that Chhapia who has a previous conviction for drink driving had continued to steal money even after being confronted by colleagues.

He revealed in court:

Stan Reiz QC, defending, told the court that Dr. Chhapia was

Claiming it was not a fall from grace but a product of a perfect storm, Reiz continued:

The court heard from Mr. Reiz that:

The defence QC also stated:

Dr. Chhapia repaid 238,000 of the stolen funds himself, and was said to have contacted the online gambling firms involved, which led to the remaining 900,000 being refunded to the PPCA.

Judge Keith Cutler said of Chhapias crime:

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Doctor Who Stole 1.1million to Fund Online Gambling Habit Jailed for More Than 3 Years - PokerTube

In his new column for Yogonet, the iGaming industry consultant analyzes and delves into Malta Gaming Authority's recently announced new compliance protections and amendments to the gambling legal framework.

Malta, one of the worlds most popular online gambling licensing jurisdictions, has announced amendments to the gambling legal framework. It appears regulators are simultaneously stepping up compliance protections while recognizing the burden on operators.

So, what do the new rules encompass, and what do they mean for existing or potential licensees?

The Malta Gambling License

On 20 October 2021, the Malta Gaming Authority who is responsible for issuing licenses and supervising operators, published several amendments to gaming rules. These include the Gaming Authorisations and Compliance Directive and a new policy of Ongoing Competency Criteria for Key Persons.

In short, Key Function roles for license holders have been changed and somewhat streamlined. Operators offering to gamble to customers will now have to fill eight Key Functions: CEO, Key Gaming Operations Manager, Key Compliance Officer, Key Legal Officer, Key Data Protection Officer, Key AML/CFT Officer, Key Technology Officer, and Internal Audit Officer.

For B2B businesses, the number of roles has been reduced from nine to seven. These include the CEO, Key Gaming Operations Manager, Key Compliance Officer, Key Legal Officer, Key Data Protection Officer, Key Technology Officer, and Internal Audit Officer.

Some of the previous roles and responsibilities have been combined into one position, making it easier for businesses to fill them. Furthermore, the amendments lay down specific qualifications, experience, and ongoing professional development requirements to meet.

Previously, it was only required to meet particular fit and proper standards. Still, now Key Function holders will have to engage in ongoing development, including training, public speaking, and article writing.

There have also been changes to another area of the licensing process. Sports integrity suspicious betting previously only applied to B2Cs, but now also applies to B2B that offer sports betting supplies or services.

What does it mean for licensees?

It means that any new Key Function certifications must align with the new requirements. By the end of May 2022, existing Key Persons must apply with the MGA to receive approval under the new rules. Then, by the end of September, the MGA will either approve or reject the application. By December, the licensees must confirm who will fill the new roles. Final confirmation by the MGA will be given by the end of March 2023.

As for the professional development requirements, they must be adhered to by the second renewal of the Key Function Certificate, after the new policy comes into force.

Recent troubles

Malta has been navigating troubled waters of late. Earlier this year, it was placed on the FATF grey list earlier this year following growing concerns over money laundering and financial crime. After two years of assessments and calls to improve the situation, the decision was taken. Malta will now have to work hard and demonstrate a continuing crackdown on perceived inefficiencies if it wants to move back to the whitelist. This will not happen overnight, so what impact is this having on its gambling industry?

Having built its economic backbone on online gambling, Malta is now in a difficult position. Some payment processors dont want to work there anymore, and other companies and businesses have decided to look elsewhere for a European base. While the gambling license is still considered reputable, we have noted an influx of operators looking to get licensed in other jurisdictions.

These include mainly Kahnawake, Curacao, and the Isle of Man. Kahnawake, in particular, offers a sterling reputation coupled with a cost-efficient licensing process and zero gambling tax. It is a very popular license for both startup and established gambling companies.

Whether you are an existing Malta license holder or are looking for a jurisdiction for your gambling company, Fast Offshore can help. We are up to speed on the recent changes and can advise you on how to ensure compliance. Furthermore, we can take care of all your corporate services needs including incorporation, structuring, payments, and ongoing maintenance. Schedule a call with us today.

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Malta moves to further streamline online gambling license requirements - Yogonet International

LONDON, Nov. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Casino Guru, an online gambling information website and a global authority on online casinos, has recently launched ZOOMin a new section of their website with interactive and engaging educational content about areas related to gambling, allowing readers to gain valuable insights into new topics.

Educating visitors about how gambling works, what are its dangers, and how to stay as safe as possible has been a crucial part of Casino Guru's mission right from the start. Their existing educational content has been helping people understand gambling and make smarter decisions for years, but the new section with expert articles, statistics, and interactive content seeks to make learning about these topics more enjoyable.

ZOOMin's flagship piece is an interactive map of gambling, alcohol, and drug laws around the world, created by Casino Guru's team of experts and researchers. Besides getting to know these regulations in general, visitors can click through an interactive globe and read about specific laws valid in individual countries, as well as curious laws in some of them.

Maros Gasparik, Casino Guru's Head of Content, commented on the release: "After months of working on the new section and making sure its content is 100% accurate and optimized,we are excited to finally share ZOOMin with our visitors and the entire online community. We think it is a great addition to our website, and we look forward to seeing our visitors enjoy the new content."

He continued by explaining why Casino Guru chose to expand in this direction: "Educating our visitors and expanding their understanding of gambling is one of our priorities, and we think that ZOOMin can help us do it better. Most of Casino Guru's usual educational content focuses on gambling specifically, whereas ZOOMin's scope is broader and puts information related to gambling into a broader context. I see that as a big benefit, as it helps us spread important information in a more enjoyable way."

Besides the flagship interactive map, ZOOMin's initial content also covers topics like the impact of genetics on the likelihood of developing problematic gambling habits, or common cognitive biases that cause us to view gambling or casino games incorrectly and may result in serios issues. The Casino Guru team finds it important for people to be aware of these issues, and the interactive and compelling nature of the new section makes it an ideal way to educate a broader audience.

And there is more to look forward to. Casino Guru plans to regularly add new projects into the section, so there will always be new areas to explore. Stay tuned!

About Casino Guru

Casino Guru is a global website about online casinos specializing in objective, data-driven casino reviews and helping players make smart gambling-related decisions. Besides that, they also help players mistreated or scammed by casinos to get justice, run a multilingual forum, and create projects and initiatives that aim to better the entire gambling industry and increase player safety.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1495263/CasinoGuru.jpg

Contact: Daniela Kianicova[emailprotected]

SOURCE Casino Guru

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Casino Guru Launches New ZOOMin Section with Interactive Educational Content - PRNewswire

by Marcus K. Dowling 2h ago

One of the goals of great songwriting is to write songs that are so compelling that the listener can see the songs plot unfold, like a movie, in their minds eye. For country icon Kenny Rogers, not only is his best-known signature song 1978-released The Gambler a story song that eventually became a feature film, but its also proof of the staying power of truly gripping stories in music.

The Gambler wasnt a sudden aberration in Rogers legendary career, though. Back when he was the lead singer of rock and roll, R&B, folk, and country band The First Edition, Rogers first mainstream smash came from a cover of Waylon Jennings Vietnam veteran heartbreak tale as a song, Ruby, Dont Take Your Love to Town. The song was a Top-40 American country hit but crossed over as a Top 10 Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and a global smash.

Fast-forward to 1978, and Kenny Rogers was five years past The First Edition and in the midst of a solo career that, following 1977s Lucille, was finally starting to catch steam. However, songs from his follow-up albums Daytime Friends and Love or Something Like It had yielded a similar level of a country-to-crossover splash.

Kenny Rogers was 40 years old when he recorded The Gambler. It wasnt necessarily a part of an album cycle for a now-graying performer many deemed just past his prime. Songwriter Don Schlitz wrote the song in August 1976 while on a shift as a computer operator.

I wrote most of it in my head, he tells American Songwriter. I thought it was an interesting story, but it was a throwaway. So I spent about six weeks trying to figure out what was gonna happen after the chorus. I finally settled on the eight lines of the last verse, Schlitz continues. He also adds that this included what he calls his [French short story writer] Guy de Maupassant ending, wherein the story has no real conclusion, and its assumed the gambler dies.

Before Rogers sang The Gambler, other country veterans who were well aware of the potential power of a story song gave an attempt at singing it. Notably, Bobby Bare and Johnny Cash whose roots in the genre extended back a quarter-century, sang it. However, because the song lacks a definitive conclusion, imparting definitive energy on the song is difficult. Is there joy for The Gambler when he folds em and walks away? Or is it a melancholic anthem tied in the moroseness of the moment? Both Bare and Cashs versions are more recitations of the lyrics and lack a certain verve. However, something in Kenny Rogers creative DNA allowed him to take the song to the next level and create his signature tune.

If anything, Kenny Rogers youthful obsession with soul stars like Sam Cooke informed his career with a constant erring towards wanting to infuse all of his reads of lyrics with soul and gravitas. Thus, for The Gambler, Rogers ability to tell the story of the songs protagonist with a level of resolute, gruff honesty created the protagonist as something of a three-dimensional character something that artists like Bare and Cash did not accomplish. Thus, while their versions of The Gambler were not so successful, Kenny Rogers version of The Gambler was a No. 1 country hit that crossed over into the Hot 100 in the top 20. Moreover, it won him the 1980 Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

Moreover, the song took Rogers initial dabbling in the film industry to another level of impact. Before 1978, Rogers had started hosting variety show-style made-for-TV specials with CBS. However, given the songs massive success and broad appeal, Kragen & Company, who had earlier produced Rogers CBS TV specials, decided to shoot a feature-style film on 35mm film in the midst of hot springs, streams, fumaroles, natural gas seeps, and volcanic domes in Northern New Mexico. If ever wanting proof of how profoundly a story song can connect to a producers dramatic imagination, take a look at CBS 1980-debuted film take on The Gambler. Kenny Rogers first starring role certainly does everything to establish him as a music-to-move superstar worthy of awareness.

When the film was broadcast on CBS, it achieved the highest rating of any TV movie shown in two years on the network. Plus, it received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Special and Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special. As well, its success spawned four made-for-TV film sequels that aired over the course of 15 years.

Regarding serendipitously finding the song and its success and impact upon his career, Rogers noted the following to Rolling Stone in 2014: [The Gambler] was a career-building song. Don Schlitz wrote it, and whats funny is that hes never been a gambler. In fact, the songs not about gambling; its a metaphor for life and picking yourself up. He just happened to hear that line when he was walking down the street one day, and it stuck with him. It was brilliant.

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CMT REWIND: Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler" And The Profound Power Of Story Songs - CMT.com

Dave Yeager, an Ohio veteran who fought gambling addiction, created a podcast to help other veterans overcome their challenges. But his efforts are going beyond the

CLEVELAND Gambling is about twice as likely in the veteran population than the general population, according to a top expert at the Cleveland VA Medical Center. One veteran - who received help at the facility - created a podcast to connect with and support others.

"I'm an 11-year veteran of the Army who actually fell into my gambling addiction while I was on active duty, in the Republic of Korea right after 9/11," podcaster, counselor and father Dave Yeager said.

Things were tense right after the terror attacks, and he said he was having arguments with his wife. One night, he couldn't sleep. To keep busy, he visited the casino-style slot room on the base.

"The next thing I realized, all the stress I was under - all of the fear I was having, just melted," he said. "I immediately knew I wanted more."

The addiction took hold. He found himself in the hospital, fearing he would harm himself and lose his family.

"It actually got me kicked out of the Army and then post-Army to the point where I needed to seek help," he said.

He found the Cleveland VA - once in 2007 and again in 2020, when he said he relapsed.

"It was an intensive psychotherapy five-week program and I left there with a much better understanding of myself, better understanding of gambling addiction and a much better understanding of how to keep myself in recovery," he said. "Once they started to get to the deeper issue that was underneath the manifestation of the addiction itself, then the addiction itself becomes less of the beast."

In the early 1970s, the Cleveland VA became the first to develop a problem gambling treatment program in the world. The director of the program is Dr. Heather Chapman.

"It actually started when a few guys from the gamblers anonymous program came to the head of the hospital and said, 'You need to help us. We have people coming to the program and we don't know what to do because they're very desperate. They're in debt, they're considering suicide, they're considering an illegal activity, their marriages are falling apart,'" Dr. Chapman said. "So he took a chance and said let's take a look at this. And because of that program and because of his work ... it started this field even before it was a recognized diagnosis."

Dr. Chapman said veterans face somewhat of a perfect storm.

"One of the difficulties of the military right now is there is on overseas bases very easily accessible gambling, so you're giving new military members access to gambling at a young age and so it primes them early," she said. "Veterans organizations like VFWs do have gambling readily available right in their building, and so I think those fraternal organizations continue to create or be there when people felt the need to create a connection."

Dr. Chapman said the warning signs of gambling addiction can be challenging to spot, unlike some other addictions.

"Sometimes people think there's an affair going on or something else happening," she said. "Gambling is unfortunately very easy to hide."

But the tell-tale sign might not be surprising.

"The biggest is money ... money is missing, money problems despite adequate income," she said. "Having difficulty keeping up with school or work and just generally keeping up with life. Definitely the biggest difference between other addictions and gambling is significant financial issues. It's unfortunately something that care provider and I think us as a population we don't talk about money and we don't want to have those discussions about money. Frequently we'll find people who have gambling issues are in charge of money in the household. People even very close to them frequently no idea this was happening because the finances were run by that person who has the gambling problem."

Legalized sports betting also poses concern for experts like Dr. Chapman.

"Ohio is still trying to figure that out - the sports betting piece - but we're surrounded by sports betting states so you literally just have to just cross over the state line and say go to West Virginia, Michigan or Pennsylvania and you'll be able to make a bet in some places just on your cell phone," she said.

Dr. Chapman said a key part of recovery is for those struggling to connect with those who've been through it - a topic she spoke about on Yeager's podcast.

"Dave worked with us - in one way getting grounded in his own recovery and then has been working with other people, giving back. He's been a real strong advocate working with us," she said.

But Yeagers efforts extend far beyond the microphone.

"He's even become a gambling counselor, he's gotten certifications, he's on the road to becoming a certified social worker - a Master's degree in social work - he really wants to work in the field, so it's a lovely thing," she said. "The help that somebody like he can give is beyond anything that I could do because he's walked in those shoes. I think it's the combination of that plus the science that I can help deliver that is the perfect combination."

For Yeager, it's not just about helping others; it's about helping himself.

"The more I pay it forward, the more I stay strong in my own recovery because it's the more I stay connected with how important this really is," he said.

You can listen to the podcast here.

For more information about problem gambling and how to help someone you love, you can visit beforeyoubet.org or the Ohio Problem Betting Helpline at 1-800-589-9966. Also, veterans can call the Veterans' Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.

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After getting help with gambling addiction, Ohio veteran creates podcast to support others - 10TV