Is this the Extreme of Gambling Addiction?

[qwertyup23]

I think this isa crime and a felony that takes place on the face of gambling. Meaning, these people who were charged were really burglars and gambling was only an incidental to the cause of their crime. It just so happened that the platform that they tried stealing involved gambling, which is incidental to their crime.

I will not categorized this as an extreme form of gambling addiction but rather an extreme case of a crime that went wide-scale. Generally, people who gamble have their respective reasons on why they do such. Most of the time, these addicts are also fond of the entertainment provided by gambling which fuels their addiction more. This is a target purely on the proceeds and the money, which I do not think involves addiction at all.

[Slow death]

The logic behind my conclusion is that, if people who are addicted to gambling would do anything at all costs to win money and for this group they have gone the extreme of breaking and stealing the monies in these gaming machines.

there are basic characteristics of people addicted to gambling:

1 - people addicted to gambling are not social people in terms of living in groups

2 - hardly someone addict will rob a bank, a casino, or anywhere, the addicted person steals things from relatives, the company where he works.

this robbery was done by people who are not addicted, the reason they choose these gambling machines is because anyone knows that they are machines that have a lot of money. There's nothing in this story related to addiction, other than why the hell have there been so many threads about gambling addictions lately? We all know well that anything can become an addiction, so why are you constantly just talking about gambling addiction?

[Alisha-k]

So I was surfing the gamblingnews.com website to get the latest information in the gambling world. I found this interesting story which I kept pondering on to understand whether this is the extreme or a new dimension of gambling addiction or not. I am tempted to think that it is because the gang according to the news, targets only businesses that have video poker and video gaming machines. And so far they have stolen a total of $400K from gambling machines. The logic behind my conclusion is that, if people who are addicted to gambling would do anything at all costs to win money and for this group they have gone the extreme of breaking and stealing the monies in these gaming machines. This behaviour should be on the far end of the continuum of gambling addiction. Below is the story¹.

Four individuals are facing charges over their alleged participation in a statewide video gaming burglary ring.
On Thursday, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul released details regarding the recent arrests of three individuals believed to be involved in a burglary ring that operated in multiple Illinois counties. The Attorney General said charges have been filed against Giulia and Gino Wuttke and Alyssa Slouka, over their alleged participation in the burglary ring that stole $400,000 from video gaming machines. Brian Morgan, 42, of Plainfield, Illinois also faces charges for his alleged participation in the burglary ring.

The criminal charges are the result of collaborative efforts between the Attorney General’s office, the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Gaming Board, as well as law enforcement and Attorney’s offices in multiple counties.

“Members of this burglary ring allegedly targeted bars, restaurants, social clubs and other small businesses that have video poker and video gaming machines. They broke into dozens of these establishments in multiple counties and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash out of the machines.“

Raoul commented on the topic in a statement by saying that the alleged members of the uncovered burglary ring primarily targeted businesses that had video poker and video gaming machines. He explained that in multiple counties, businesses were broken into and gambling machines were robbed, resulting in the theft of thousands of dollars. Raoul acknowledged that the arrests and charges are the result of the collaboration of multiple law enforcement agencies. In conclusion, he thanked all agencies involved in the case.

Having read the story do you think that this could be the extreme or a new dimension of gambling addiction?

1. https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/police-nabs-four-who-stole-400k-from-gambling-machines

I don't think I'd class this as a gambling problem. Just a case of burglary. Most people believe that the gambling business is a very lucrative and profitable business so these four must have seen it as an opportunity to get quick money..
 I doubt that these idea was borne out of a desperate need to get money to gamble but rather a need to get money from gambling without actually gambling.

[Pandu Geddon]

the worse effects of gambling addiction I think will be people who have no control over themselves. even most of them have social or financial pressure from their families.
The first target that will be affected is the family. ranging from borrowing money to stealing.

for a smart player, I guess they keep their capital limited and know when they have to get out of the game. most of course are people who have jobs and income. and set aside some of their money to have fun at the casino.

but those who are addicted may gamble every day, and will not even work or do work while betting at the casino. I see people around me like that.

[bittraffic]

Some criminals actually think that stealing from machines like ATMs or Gambling Machines is a victimless crime. They definitely learned it from someone who has a twisted view of things.

The police wouldn't be pursuing them if it's a victimless crime but yep I also wonder why they only nab Gambling Machines, that's quite a target.  aren't there someone guarding Gambling Machines?

[Zlantann]

I don't think I'd class this as a gambling problem. Just a case of burglary. Most people believe that the gambling business is a very lucrative and profitable business so these four must have seen it as an opportunity to get quick money..
 I doubt that these idea was borne out of a desperate need to get money to gamble but rather a need to get money from gambling without actually gambling.

These set of criminals just discovered an easy means of stealing money from those gambling machines. There was no report that they were gamblers or used the money for gambling purpose. Hence insinuating that their actions was caused by gambling addiction might be wrong. There was a time in my country when a set of criminals were targeting and stealing a model of Toyota car. When the police investigated it was discovered that they just discovered a new means of bypassing the security system of the vehicle.  

[wxa7115]

So I was surfing the gamblingnews.com website to get the latest information in the gambling world. I found this interesting story which I kept pondering on to understand whether this is the extreme or a new dimension of gambling addiction or not. I am tempted to think that it is because the gang according to the news, targets only businesses that have video poker and video gaming machines. And so far they have stolen a total of $400K from gambling machines. The logic behind my conclusion is that, if people who are addicted to gambling would do anything at all costs to win money and for this group they have gone the extreme of breaking and stealing the monies in these gaming machines. This behaviour should be on the far end of the continuum of gambling addiction.

My take is that it may not be at all related to gambling.
My take is that - in a way or another - they've found out some ways to easily (or at least very fast!) break into those machines and steal their content. I would not be surprised only certain makers (of the machines) were targeted.

This is the position that I hold as well, I do not really see any kind of signs that could point out to a gambling addiction among those that committed those crimes, they just wanted some easy access to cash and it seems to me that for a time they were very successful in their criminal enterprise.

However it seems to me they brought too much attention to themselves precisely because of that success, and now they're going to have to pay the consequences of all of those crimes that they committed, and taking into account all of the robberies they committed and the significant amount of money they stole I suppose they are going to receive very long jail sentences.

[peter0425]

these people has a knowledge that it is safer to rob machines than actual people  or banks .

and according to the report they have already stolen 400 thousand dollars in which shows how profitable these for them and safer.

though this is not free from being caught ? yet there is more chances of surviving and keeping it long than other form of crimes.

[mindrust]

So I was surfing the gamblingnews.com website to get the latest information in the gambling world. I found this interesting story which I kept pondering on to understand whether this is the extreme or a new dimension of gambling addiction or not. I am tempted to think that it is because the gang according to the news, targets only businesses that have video poker and video gaming machines. And so far they have stolen a total of $400K from gambling machines. The logic behind my conclusion is that, if people who are addicted to gambling would do anything at all costs to win money and for this group they have gone the extreme of breaking and stealing the monies in these gaming machines. This behaviour should be on the far end of the continuum of gambling addiction. Below is the story¹.
...

Sounds about right. Drug addicts do the same thing too. When they run out of money they start stealing from other people. Gambling, alcohol, drugs... all of these might cause serious addiction. Stealing itself is also another addiction. It is called "Kleptomania".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleptomania

Kleptomania is the inability to resist the urge to steal items, usually for reasons other than personal use or financial gain. First described in 1816, kleptomania is classified in psychiatry as an impulse control disorder.[2] Some of the main characteristics of the disorder suggest that kleptomania could be an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder, but also share similarities with addictive and mood disorders.[3][4]

Sometimes a kleptomaniac person is also a gambling addict. Double K.O.   Maybe that's the guy in your story.

Most people have weak minds, they will get addicted to anything very easily. You just give them a taste and it is over.

[dimonstration]

I don’t se any kind of gambling addiction on this story because they are just a regular thief and if theres one that they are addicted is stealing money on the place that they know that has an easy money to steal in which case places with slot because the security in that place is much weaker compared to a full size casino or bank. This guys surely keep watching on how many players playing on this slots which made them an easy target. This not an addiction or whatsoever dimension. This is simply a theft crime that involves slot machines.

[Cryptomultiplier]

Sounds about right. Drug addicts do the same thing too. When they run out of money they start stealing from other people. Gambling, alcohol, drugs... all of these might cause serious addiction. Stealing itself is also another addiction. It is called "Kleptomania".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleptomania

Kleptomania is the inability to resist the urge to steal items, usually for reasons other than personal use or financial gain. First described in 1816, kleptomania is classified in psychiatry as an impulse control disorder.[2] Some of the main characteristics of the disorder suggest that kleptomania could be an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder, but also share similarities with addictive and mood disorders.[3][4]

Sometimes a kleptomaniac person is also a gambling addict. Double K.O.   Maybe that's the guy in your story.

Most people have weak minds, they will get addicted to anything very easily. You just give them a taste and it is over.

I laughed so hard because of your 'double k.o.' typification. Perhaps it was a gambling addict, or friends of a gambling addict or better still, they themselves were gambling addicts; whichever way one puts it, it doesn't justify that they robbed. They committed a crime and were caught. The karma for gambling deals different. Most probably they loved stealing from businesses who they feel does same to people.  

[gunhell16]

I don't know if I understood this correctly from the news article I read, Burglary Ring is a syndicate group whose main target to attack for robbery is those who have video poker and video game machine businesses in different places in the country of Illinois. And take note that the amount they stole is not a joke because it reached 400k$ according to the investigation of those handling the case.

Now to OP's question if it is due to gambling addiction. I don't think they are addicted to gambling. But they are addicted to attacking video poker and video gaming machine business owners who only have thousands of dollars in money, maybe this is the only way they see an easy way to make thousands of dollars.

[Mauser]

Having read the story do you think that this could be the extreme or a new dimension of gambling addiction?

I didn't fully understand the article, are these people addicted to gambling and only started stealing to fund their addiction? If so that I don't think this is something new. Just last night I saw an interview on youtube between a casino owner and a gambling addict. He talked about how he stole money from everybody he knew, in his 11 years of addiction before he started a treatment, he ruined every relationship and used all the money he could get his hands on for gambling. In severe cases of addictions it becomes hard to control yourself when you think only about one thing all day. I wouldn't call stealing to fund your gambling addiction as a new form or something extreme, many people have done it in the past. And video gambling machines seem to be a good target if you can get $400,000 with it. It's much more money  than you would get from stealing an ATM. In case the criminals weren't really addicted to gambling than this is a normal robbery. 

[rhomelmabini]

I don't think this is solely a case of gambling addiction, but for me it's just a huge case of a planned burglary. There's nothing stated on the article regarding gambling addiction of the burglars and but we may never know in real life if even one from these individuals are real gambling addict or not.

[Don Pedro Dinero]

I agree with the other colleagues who believe that this is not related to gambling addiction. This is most likely the case:

My take is that - in a way or another - they've found out some ways to easily (or at least very fast!) break into those machines and steal their content. I would not be surprised only certain makers (of the machines) were targeted.

I think it's like drugs. There are people who sell drugs and also take drugs, they do it to pay for their vice, at least in part. We don't know if this is the case, but those who make the big business are those who don't take drugs, or in this case, those who don't gamble. What I don't see in the news is any indication that they are doing it to fund their supposed gambling habit.

[_act_]

I think it's like drugs. There are people who sell drugs and also take drugs, they do it to pay for their vice, at least in part. We don't know if this is the case, but those who make the big business are those who don't take drugs, or in this case, those who don't gamble. What I don't see in the news is any indication that they are doing it to fund their supposed gambling habit.

What I see more appropriate is that there is nothing like they are gamblers, they may or may not be gamblers, but they are stealing, that makes them a criminal, not an addict, there is nothing about the news that can make us call them addicts but a criminal that will soon face judgement in the court. They did not do it because they are addicted to gambling, they did it because they want to steal.

[gantez]

TITLE :

Police Nabs Four Who Stole $400K from Gambling Machines

“Members of this burglary ring allegedly targeted bars, restaurants, social clubs and other small businesses that have video poker and video gaming machines. They broke into dozens of these establishments in multiple counties and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash out of the machines.“

but we may never know in real life if even one from these individuals are real gambling addict or not.

The above are the flash of the news. The flash points if we read inside further didn't state any connection to gambling people going to burgle the casino machine and pokers to steal money inside. The news state clear not connecting gamblers but the place of attack is gambling machines to steal money. We need to take the news as it is said it and we don't have to reinterpret it.

[Google+]

they are a group of professional thieves who target all forms of business to get money. Well in this case I don't know if they did this because of gambling addiction or something else. But their every action is a criminal act that can bring them to jail. I don't think any gambler would do this if they could control what they do. I think the game service provider really has to keep a super tight watch on every video poker machine and gambling house in order to maintain peace for every player who comes and prevent things that are not wanted.

[rahmad2nd]

Having read the story do you think that this could be the extreme or a new dimension of gambling addiction?

After I listened and read the link to the article you shared, I do not believe that the motive for the robbery was motivated by their addiction to gambling. in the article link there is not a single statement that the suspects are gambling addicts.
This motive is a common robbery motive and they target the gambling machines scattered in the area.

I assume, before they do these actions, usually they have studied beforehand they believe that in these gambling machines there is a lot of money stored.
robbery and addiction are two different things, if there is a group of people or someone who commits robbery with the motive of wanting to gamble or is addicted to gambling, I can't imagine how mentally and psychologically damaged it will be, so that they do actions that will harm themselves.

[Cookdata]

Having read the story do you think that this could be the extreme or a new dimension of gambling addiction?

This is where internet casinos have an advantage over traditional casinos. I don't believe this is an addiction, but more an act of stealing and taking advantage of the chance to milk gaming establishments. If an addicted gambler can be in his right mind and still borrow money or sell the property to gamble and never in any way harm others or take money from other companies, it means that what those guys did wasn't triggered by addiction, they just wanted the money that wasn't theirs, better that they were apprehended by the police so that it can serve as a lesson for others who want to try the same thing.