Those who suffer from addiction are deeply affected by it, and often to the point where their personality changes completely. The affected individual may become desperate and manipulative in his or her efforts to get what it is their heart desires most. Some addicts abuse substances such as alcohol or drugs but others are compelled to engage in activities such as gambling, shopping or sex. Whatever it is that they are addicted to, it may get to the point where it takes over their lives and where, sadly, everything else comes second. Spouses, children, work, and hobbies will all pale into insignificance in relation to the thing that the addict is addicted to.
Funding an Addiction
Most addictions require cash of some sort; the alcoholic needs money to pay for alcohol, and the drug addict needs money to buy drugs. However, one addiction that requires a constant source of funds is a gambling addiction.
This addiction is one of the most financially draining addictions and the one that causes the most devastation to the family members and friends of the affected person.
Many gambling addicts will continue to gamble until they can no longer get their hands on any money; some will resort to crime when their funds dry up. Many individuals steal from their loved ones or employers in the belief that he or she will pay the money back as soon as that ‘big win’, that they are convinced is just a spin or roll of the dice away, occurs. Sadly, for most gamblers, the big win never comes. Those who do win big often gamble it all away before they have a chance to pay back the money they have taken. For them, it is about the thrill of the gambling, and they cannot walk away regardless of whether they win or lose.
Dishonesty
Most gambling addicts who commit crimes to fund their addiction, do so out of desperation. They have no control over their urge to gamble and resort to criminal activity when they feel they have no other way of securing the funds to allow them to continue with their addictive behaviour.
Katherine Bethell, who was working for an insurance company in an accounting role, has been given a sixteen-month suspended sentence for stealing more than £36,000 from her employer. She was also told to attend a fifteen-day rehabilitation programme and was ordered to do 120 hours of community service.
Bethell faked payments to a contractor and then diverted the money into her own bank account. She spent the money on gaming websites and scratch cards. She admitted to fraudulently transferring sums between £1,400 and £3,600 during fourteen different transactions. The judge told her that she had acted dishonestly by stealing a significant amount of money from people who placed their trust in her.
Remorse
Bethell blamed her ‘out-of-control gambling habit’ for her actions; because of the remorse she showed and the fact that she had a young son to support, she was given a suspended sentence. The judge also spoke of her mental health being a factor in his decision not to send her to prison immediately.
Bethell had created a fake company name and made payments to herself in a bid to fund her addiction. She was manipulative in her attempts to steal the cash by disguising the payments so that the company director would not realise what was happening.
Sadly, this is an all too common characteristic of the addict. Lying and cheating to those around them is something that happens regularly in the world of the addicted individual. Bethell has admitted she is glad to be caught as she wanted to get help. She acted out of desperation and is now attempting to overcome her addiction.
Source:
- http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/gambling-addict-stole-from-her-employers-to-fund-scratchcards-and-gaming-websites/story-29553009-detail/story.html
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