A close friend of mine has a serious gambling problem. He makes about 75K a year and last year alone he spent almost 30K (that he could remember) in casinos. I believe the real number is much much higher.
To give you an idea how bad his addiction has become I will tell you a few of the things that he has done. He is a truck driver by trade and now lives in his truck. He has no bills other than a cell phone and 1 credit card. The reason I mention his bills is so you will get an idea that his money isnt going to pay alot of bills.
Payday for him is on fridays. He makes over 1k per week. On a common week he will hit a casino friday night and by sunday he is totally broke and will often times ask his boss for an advance for food for the following week which will be deducted out of his paycheck the following friday. He will sometimes spend a large portion of this money in casinos as well and go hungry.
Three years ago he decided to start his own trucking operation. He went to the local bank and secured a large loan which he used to purchase a few tractor-trailors. A couple weeks later he went back to the bank and borrowed a large sum ($25K) for operating costs. Two weeks later the entire amount had been spent in a local casino. He didnt even leave himself enough funds to fuel his first trip. He ended up filling bankruptcy and lost everything he owned without ever pulling a load.
I have tried telling him that he has got to stop gambling but he seems to be in denial. I point out how his addiction has wrecked his life and how it had caused him to lose everything he ever had. When pointed out to him he refuses to see it. He honestly seems to think that he has come out ahead gamling even tho he has no money and nothing to show for any of it.
I have mentioned to him many times that he should call a gambling addiction center and talk with them. He blows me off and tell me there is no issue.
So my question. Any ideas on how I may be able to help him? I hate to see a good person ruin themselves over a addiction like this while I sit back and not try and help but I am not sure its even possible to help someone who cannot see there own problem.
To give you an idea how bad his addiction has become I will tell you a few of the things that he has done. He is a truck driver by trade and now lives in his truck. He has no bills other than a cell phone and 1 credit card. The reason I mention his bills is so you will get an idea that his money isnt going to pay alot of bills.
Payday for him is on fridays. He makes over 1k per week. On a common week he will hit a casino friday night and by sunday he is totally broke and will often times ask his boss for an advance for food for the following week which will be deducted out of his paycheck the following friday. He will sometimes spend a large portion of this money in casinos as well and go hungry.
Three years ago he decided to start his own trucking operation. He went to the local bank and secured a large loan which he used to purchase a few tractor-trailors. A couple weeks later he went back to the bank and borrowed a large sum ($25K) for operating costs. Two weeks later the entire amount had been spent in a local casino. He didnt even leave himself enough funds to fuel his first trip. He ended up filling bankruptcy and lost everything he owned without ever pulling a load.
I have tried telling him that he has got to stop gambling but he seems to be in denial. I point out how his addiction has wrecked his life and how it had caused him to lose everything he ever had. When pointed out to him he refuses to see it. He honestly seems to think that he has come out ahead gamling even tho he has no money and nothing to show for any of it.
I have mentioned to him many times that he should call a gambling addiction center and talk with them. He blows me off and tell me there is no issue.
So my question. Any ideas on how I may be able to help him? I hate to see a good person ruin themselves over a addiction like this while I sit back and not try and help but I am not sure its even possible to help someone who cannot see there own problem.