Gambling has become more widespread now than it has ever been in the past.

Native American casinos in Oklahoma now offer table games. Texas Hold’em has become the pastime of choice for thousands, and lottery payouts grow ever-larger.

The thought of easy money may be grand, but the joys and tribulations of gambling for money can easily become overwhelming; possibly grappling gamers into a life of corruption, sin and inescapable debt.

For these reasons, The Chart has taken it upon itself to delve deeper into the issue. Our goal is to uncover the hidden world of gambling – the high and the lows.

We will explore the fast-growing Texas Hold’em fad and the reasons it has spread across the country, invading casinos and dining rooms into the peaking daylight hours.

We also meet a few problem gamblers, one recovering and one who cannot stop. We hear how they live their lives and how gambling has taken a hold of them.

Bingo has long been a popular outlet for gambling, though many do not realize the impact it can have on people’s lives.

After reading this, we hope you will take away a better understanding of the wonders and perils gambling can bring about.

With knowledge and understanding, hopefully gamblers will not allow themselves to be drawn in too far and already-problem gamblers will stop hitting the slots, convenience stores and weekly Hold’em tournaments and find help for their devastating problem.