Cindi Beck has seen the darker side of the bright lights and big money.

A state-certified gambling addiction counselor in Longview, Beck said she sees about 10 people a year for problems with compulsive gaming.

"A gambling debt of $50,000 is not unusual at all," she said.

Unlike addictions to alcohol and drugs, Beck said, compulsive gambling is socially acceptable.

"Pathological gamblers get patted on the back for winning," she said. "It's like patting an alcoholic on the back for drinking. It doesn't make any sense."

People with a problem are less likely to seek help or stick with treatment. The inability to walk away with one's winnings is a sign of a problem, Beck said.

"They win $5,000, and they don't leave the casino. They stay until they lose it all," she said. "They think they're winning, and they come home with nothing. It puts them in debt, and they can lose everything they have."

Gamblers can resort to desperate measures when they fall into debt, she added.

"They wind up losing their families and jobs and get into legal issues," she said. "They get into embezzlement and stealing, all kinds of things you see a drug addict doing. They pawn anything they can get money for, especially wedding rings, things that mean a lot."

After counseling compulsive gamblers for 20 years, Beck offers this advice:

Empty your wallet

"They should not carry money, because it's too easy to start back and get into compulsive behavior again. It doesn't mean they'll go to the boats, but they'll buy a scratch-off or something, and in a few weeks they'll be right back at the boats."

Seek help

"Get counseling, and if they can find a support group get into a group. ... There are support groups in Shreveport, but you don't want them to drive to Shreveport because they'll go to the meeting and then go by the boats afterward."

Stay calm

"When a gambler is upset about things, having some emotional problems, gambling is a quick fix for it. And it's not about the win, either, it's about placing the bet — the rush that comes from placing the bet."

Make the change

"Gambling is a compulsive behavior, and as with any compulsive behavior, when you develop an addiction you're wanting to change the way you feel ... Recovery is about changing the behavior and changing the thinking patterns."