In recent decades, gambling has come out into the open and flourished. Mega-casinos have spread from Las Vegas and Atlantic City to cover the country. Gambling is now legal in 48 of 50 states. In fact, the United States is now considered the largest national gambling market in the world. Along with this rise in public, legalized gambling comes an escalation in gambling addiction, otherwise known as pathological gambling. While many herald the economic advantages of gambling, the gambling addict who has lost everything on a bet knows the dark side of this behavior.