They say it’s a progressive illness and it sure is.
It sure is, they are right about it. A gambler that doesn't control their emotions and stay away from getting addicted will suffer more as time goes by because they keep going deeper into the sea of addiction.
Addiction blocks emotions, it suppresses them so much you don’t ‘fee’ anything, only when you gamble, it takes you away from you, and your problems and then gives you a hundred more.
It doesn't take you away from your problems but makes you busy and keep your problems hidden until you stop and come out of the casino to realize that you had problems, and as you said, it only increases the problems if not done with limits and control.
addicts can only save themselves. We try sometimes to save other people, when we are the one’s in need. You have to turn inward with an addiction and help and learn to love yourself in order not to need it anymore, a task impossible until you receive that gift from other’s. You have to come out of hiding, and talk, unload all the shit that’s been holding you down and try your hardest to move forward.
Acknowledgment from the addict is important if they want to get out of it because if the gambler doesn't even accept the fact that they are addicted, no one can help them get out of their addiction. So, they help themselves by accepting their addiction and openly talking about their problems so that the ones hearing can help them get out of it.