Gambling addiction can be a serious crisis. If you are experiencing thoughts of harming yourself or others, call 1-800-GAMBLER, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and/or seek immediate medical attention in your area.
A Reddit thread posted in June 2025 by a self-described “gambling addict” suggested violence against the casino industry. The thread referenced Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
“What can the Luigi Mangione case teach us about how casino executives should be treated? Thoughts? I mean casino wolves stole our health and money,” the alarming thread post read.
Violence of any kind is not the answer to problem gambling.
The thread was in the r/GamblingAddiction subreddit, which had 21,000 members as of June. This subreddit is less active than r/problemgambling, home to 33,000 members.
In recent years, Reddit has become a resource for many people with gambling addiction.
Fortunately, the comments in the thread did not condone the sentiment of the Luigi Mangione-related post.
One Reddit user replied: “Please get help in your community. This group is great, but your posts concern me that you need more immediate assistance. This addiction is horrible, and it makes us do horrible things. You have the power to change, you just have to stop looking outside of yourself for the answers. Harming yourself or another human is not going to fix this. Accept your losses and begin rebuilding. You can do it.”
While it’s understandable for a person suffering from gambling problems to feel exploited by the casino industry, acts of violence are wrong and will not solve anything.
Problem Betting on the Rise
Online betting addiction has grown in recent years following a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a federal prohibition on sports gambling.
Betting addiction statistics show that roughly 40% of online sports bettors have felt ashamed after losing, with more than 50% reporting having chased a bet.
Some sports bettors have even threatened the lives of athletes.
Studies from the U.S. indicate that about 20% of problem gamblers have attempted suicide, the highest attempt rate among all addictions
For people who have experienced problem gambling, recovery and a life without gambling is possible.
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