Aside from wasting money I've never felt that gambling affecting my life directly, it's mandatory for gambler to able control their emotion so it won't affect their live. A few years ago, I had a friend who asked to borrow money, claiming his mother was seriously ill. Moved by his situation, I gave him a decent amount, hoping it would help his mother recover more quickly. However, after a couple of years passed, he never paid me back. Eventually, another friend who lives near him told me the reason that he had become addicted to gambling.