Desire for the 'One Shot Big Kill'

Addiction to gambling is not only a problem in Korea but a worldwide  problem seen mostly in the economically advanced countries. The effects of gambling on our society were examined by an article in the Catholic  Peace Weekly. Legal gambling takes place at horse race tracks, cycling tournaments, casinos and where lottery tickets are sold.

There is no denying that gambling is a great money maker for the country and much good comes from the taxed revenues, like funding public welfare projects, and , no small matter, it puts people to work. However, this should not blind us to problems that society has to deal with because of the addiction of over 2 million citizens: divorce,  family problems, suicides,  sickness, loss of work and  larceny, to name just a few. In recent years, with the economic slow down, the numbers frequenting the legal gambling establishments has increased greatly. But the media continues to treat the addiction lightly, and the government does not see it as urgent--and here we are only considering the legal gambling. Illegal  and online gambling is even more pervasive than the legal gambling, and it goes on without any controls.

The article points out that the desire for the 'one shot big kill', and getting something you have not worked for are the main motivating factors behind the addiction.  Many who are working to help gamblers deal with their addiction believe that the efforts to help have not kept up with the spread of the gambling establishments. The government has not kept up and little money is going into prevention and therapy. 

The media also seems unconcerned; even the Church has not been involved to any great degree. Revenue and  employment possibilities from gambling are a great help to the economy but the price being paid is high. It is like the bingo parties the Catholic Church in the States uses to help fund their charity and school work. Does the end justify the means? --we might ask. Catholicism does not see gambling as a moral problem until it becomes detrimental to the person and the family. This happens in too many cases and then we are likely dealing with someone who is sick and needs help. Those who are helping on the therapeutic side of the issue see a need for more people to become interested in prevention and therapy, with more money allotted to help those who are addicted.