On the one hand, I don't like these stories because they can give the image that all of us who gamble are degenerate gamblers as in these cases, but on the other hand, degenerate gamblers are capable of evaporating real fortunes in record time.
The way I see it many people are degenerates, period. They can be gamblers, or not, it doesn't matter. I know many such degenerates. I have drug addict for a neighbor who lives with his father and steals his money, demolishes the house when he can't get high... It's much worse than being a gambling addict. If it was about gambling he'd do the same.
I also know a guy who's alcoholic. He spends all his money on alcohol, then finds out he needs other stuff like electricity, food, so he steals that. He'll live in the basement to stay warm, but will always have money for a bottle.
The way to teach these idiots real life and responsibility is to send them to the army and make them wake up early every day and train, so they don't have time to think about getting drunk.