In the beginning I gambled because it was fun. It was magical the way gambling freed me from the worries, fears and frustrations of everyday living. When I was tense, gambling relaxed me. When I was angry, gambling calmed me down. When I was happy, I celebrated feeling good by gambling. Slowly, over time, gambling became the only coping mechanism I knew, and when the financial problems grew and the stress of the money overwhelmed me, I convinced myself that one more bet would solve the problem. Of course one bet led to the next, and the next, and even if I won, it was never enough.