The shame and remorse over gambling losses can lead to some dark places. A Swedish study published last year found that problem gamblers were four times more likely to die from suicide than the general population. (If you are having thoughts of suicide, please call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 to talk with someone.)
Jack F, 81, a former chief with the Jersey City Fire Department, got drawn into gambling on his iPhone, and eventually racked up a debt of about $60,000, far more than his firefighter pension could cover (read more about his story here). He was constantly on edge, scrambling to cover his losses, sweating over his wife’s scrutiny, telling himself, I won’t get…