How are children affected by pathological gambling?
Gambling may affect children in several ways. They may be physically and emotionally abandoned by their parents, who are unable to give their children needed attention and nurturing owing to the time spent gambling. “Casino kids” have been left by themselves at the outer rim of casinos at the same time as their parents gamble, according to some casino security officers. Sometimes children are left in the family car in the casino parking lot for hours at a time while their parents gamble inside. Sometimes children may also spend several hours each week with babysitters at the time when their parents gamble in casinos, bingo halls or card rooms. All of these may lead a child to feel physically and emotionally abandoned.