A Gambling addiction is unlike other addictions in that whoever can be used as financial resource will be used (meaning drinking, drugs, etc. doesn't necessarily require OTHER people as a resource, as long as the addict has a good job to support their habit, but gambling requires risking MORE than is rightfully your own). A gambler with proper self-control (I'm sure there must be at least 2 of them in the world, possibly 3) will only RISK (this is the name of the game) only what is theirs. Summed up, once a gambler, always a gambler.
Thugs won't just shoot up your house, they will TAKE all of the assets of the person who owes them money (don't be an asset).