Gambling in America: A Growing Crisis of Greed, Addiction, and Loss by Dr. James Dobson

August 16-17, 2021
Guests: Kristen Haflett and Ryan Dobson

Part 1
Ten million Americans are crippled by their gambling addiction. Whether they waste their money in the casinos, on lottery tickets, or with online sports betting, it’s a social cancer that is rapidly spreading to the next generation. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Dr. James Dobson sits down with Kristen Haflett, a licensed social worker who specializes in gambling addictions. They are joined by Ryan Dobson, Dr. Dobson’s son, who adds his insight on addiction and families in peril. Together, they examine how this $255-billion-per-year industry preys upon the least fortunate by exploiting one of man’s most common sins, the love of money.

Part 2
People who delve into gambling sometimes find it’s a seductive path fraught with greed and compulsion. Those same people often struggle with depression or anxiety. In turn, alcohol and drug use can manifest with the gambler as a form of coping. On today’s edition of Family Talk, Dr. James Dobson talks with Kristen Haflett, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in gambling addictions. They discuss how 87% of gambling addicts who seek recovery can "fall off the wagon." While the odds are against them, with God, recovery is possible.