Gripped by Gambling [Paperback]

Marilyn Lancelot (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 5, 2007

A nightmare begins with alcohol addiction, followed by prescription drugs, overeating, and eventually gambling. This is a woman's journey back from the Hell she created.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marilyn Lancelot is a recovering compulsive gambler. She visited her first casino in 1984 at the age of 53, and for seven years made a four-hour trek from her home to the casino each weekend. She lied to her family and friends, and signed her employers' name to company checks. She contemplated suicide.

Her world came tumbling down when she was finally caught embezzling and was sentenced to two years in prison. Her close-knit family didn't even know about her gambling addiction until her arrest.

Marilyn has been in recovery for sixteen years, and has used her experience to help other women gamblers. She has started Gambler's Anonymous meetings in her hometown and at a local prison. She has a web site devoted to helping women gamblers specifically, many of whose needs were not addressed by male-dominated GA meetings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Wheatmark (March 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158736770X
• ISBN-13: 978-1587367700
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #599,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book About a Woman With A Gambling Problem, June 8, 2007

By 

Don Hulen (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gripped by Gambling (Paperback)

"GRIPPED BY GAMBLING"

A review by Don Hulen:

Finally! A book about a woman compulsive gambler, an Escape Gambler. Thank you Marilyn. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and that person is a woman or just plays slot machines you need to read this book. It is real. When I finally got a copy I read it from beginning to end. I am ADHD, and that is the first time in probably 30 years I have done that.

It isn't about flipping coins when you were seven or eight, betting on the ponies, playing dice or the numbers. It isn't about craps, poker or blackjack. Its a book about a woman who couldn't stop gambling. I will say it again, couldn't stop gambling. Every counselor who treats or pretends to treat Escape Compulsive gambling should read this book and have a copy in their library for required
reading by patients. I have read many of the books written by problem/compulsive gamblers. I have read many of the articles written about problem gamblers.

The majority are about men who gambled huge amounts and seem to glorify their gambling. Marilyn has written about the pain, the real pain she caused her children, her grandchildren her lover and her sister, her victim as well as herself. Witting about these experiences while pointing the finger directly at yourself is a very difficult thing to do. I know, I can't seem to do it.

I was there in the court room when they slapped the handcuffs on her and took her to prison while her children and grandchildren were crying. I was there when her boyfriend died. I was there when her son died. I was there when her grandson who is now in prison was the lead story on the news. I was there when her daughter finally got straight. I was there when she started a meeting for women (despite adverse consequences). I was there when some of us didn't really accept women into our program but she insisted on coming and changed our program forever.

Its been over sixteen years since I met Marilyn, I thought I knew something about women gamblers, I didn't know anything until I read her book.

Don Hulen, Executive Director, Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend for all gamblers especially woman, May 13, 2007

By 

Janet G. "Janet G." (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gripped by Gambling (Paperback)

This book was very real and touching to the heart of anyone, especially us gamblers. I had been in relaspe for 11 months, but after the second day of reading Marilyn's book I went back to GA. I could not put the book down,she was so real and as a woman gambler I could so relate to what she went through, her story will touch your heart and have you look into your own heart and addiction to gambling. I have bought other books on gambling and this is by far the best. Janet G./complusive gambler.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Friendly Conversation, April 26, 2007

By 

Mark Erickson "Mark" (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gripped by Gambling (Paperback)

I strongly recommend this book to be read by anybody who currently has
or has had a gambling problem. It will also give great insight to the family members of people who gamble so they can gain an understanding into the depths that compulsive gambling can take a person. I picked up this book and felt myself getting so involved with the emotional story of Marilyn, I had to blink my eyes many times because it was almost as if Marilyn and I were having a converstation over a cup of coffee as I was
reading her account of her story. This book will help anyone who picks this book up and decides for themselves, " I want to learn more!"

Mark Erickson