What can stop a chronic gambler from gambling? Funny enough, I'm still looking. There's nothing as elating as knowing your chips are piling, but it can be so depressing when it all comes crashing down. As the op mentioned, there are health issues and money issues involved too but a gambler won't mind going as far as stealing when he has exhausted all the avenues for borrowing because he believes the next game will be winning number.
 There are people who have self control, but not all.