Researchers identify the progression of compulsive gambling in these stages:

Winning Stage: Experience several wins that leave gamblers with unreasonable optimism. This leads them to feel great excitement when gambling, and they soon increase the amounts of their bets. They also gamble more frequently and fantasize about a big win.

Losing Stage: Brag about wins, start gambling alone, and borrow heavily. Noticeable personality changes. Start lying to family and friends, become more irritable, lose time from work and become withdrawn. Home life unhappy as gamblers run up debt to chase losses.

Desperation Stage: Significant increase in gambling time accompanied by remorse and blaming others. Many gamblers in this stage commit crimes to finance their gambling. Experience depression, thoughts of suicide, engage in alcohol and/or other drug abuse, harbor feelings of panic and hopelessness.

Recovery Stage: Admit they have a pathological problem and stop gambling. Express honest desire for help. Regain self-respect with professional treatment. Think clearer and outlook on life turns hopeful. Work on rebuilding reputation and restitution one day at a time. New interests.

Denise Jewell is a CNHI News Service Elite Reporting Program fellow. She writes for the Niagara Gazette in Niagara Falls, N.Y.