Suicide Draws Attention to Negatives

Michael Pellegrino’s suicide ten days ago did more than end his suffering, it brought to light the numerous problems that come from gambling addictions. Pellegrino was one of the Seneca Niagara’s high stakes players, and it turns out that he was in debt for about $250,000 in losses when he died. Pellegrino was a heavy gambler, but also a heavy loser at the blackjack tables, and by shooting himself on the floor of the casino he shone a bright light on everything that is wrong with gambling.

He is not alone in his despair however, for you hear over and over about the various suicides and bankruptcies and embezzlements – all of which are caused by problem gamblers. Case in point – you take Kenneth Mangione who was loved by all in his school, until they found out that he had stolen $192,000 from the school to pay for his gambling addiction. Or James Wright who was a successful construction executive until he started stealing to feed his addiction – he is now spending the next 18 months in jail.

Then there are those who spend their paychecks on gambling, and then use their credit cards to pay their bills. Next thing they know, they are in over their heads in credit card debt and have to declare bankruptcy. It even asks you when you file if gambling is the reason for your debt, and many say no – but quite often that is exactly why they are in debt.

Embezzlement is on the rise as well, with four times as many people ever embezzling from their companies to feed their gambling addiction. People like Mangione, who they would never expect to steal, are ending up in jail and in debt to try and pay back the money or at least a portion of it, that they have stolen. Mangione ended up serving six months in jail and had to pay $50,000 in restitution to the school.

However, the real issue is that at some point, even if they go to jail, they will end up gambling again, and then horribly, quite often, they end up with a gun in the middle of a casino blowing their brains out because they can’t see an end to their despair.

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