Gambling refers to the process of staking money in view of gaining more. When it comes to making money, one has to draw a line between need and greed. Gambling is something that blurs this line. It tempts you to risk more in an attempt to win more and the cycle does not seem to end. In case you lose money, you want to earn it back and in case you earn money, you are tempted to get more. You get caught in this cycle and keep gambling for hours together. And then you do it regularly. You get addicted to it. In the process, you may end up losing large amounts of money. Even if you win, your greed to win more might never end. The activity that started as a game of winning or losing money might take a bad turn and lead you to criminal activities. Gambling may breed ill-practices that have adverse effects on your family and social life. Perhaps, a good solution to prevent the ill-effects of gambling is to make it illegal. Why Gambling Should Be Illegal Gambling is meant to serve as a recreation. People engage in gambling activities to get rid of their problems, stress, and loneliness. But most often, the contrary happens. Gambling often turns out to be a thoughtless splurge of money and a waste of quality time. It invites problems. Gambling can lead people to crime. Those addicted to gambling fail to think wisely before taking any decisions in life. Their addiction forces them to risk huge amounts of money. It may lead them to a stage where they cannot stop themselves from betting money and valuables, in turn leading them to bankruptcy. Those addicted to gambling are often seen giving up their jobs and careers, thus spoiling their lives. Problem gamblers or compulsive gamblers as they can be called, feel compelled to bet money with the intent to win more and more. Irrespective of whether they lose or win money, their addiction to gambling forces them to continue staking it. It may land them into huge debts. Lack of funds to repay the loans may leave them incapable of shouldering their responsibilities towards their family. In this case, the family members either have to face hardships and economic problems, or they may decide to separate, sharing no responsibility of the money lost. Gambling is so addictive, that it won't be wrong to compare it with drugs. Similar to how substance abuse has devastating effects on a personal and social level, even gambling is detrimental to both these aspects of living. Why not make it illegal? Though one may argue that gambling is only a means of recreation and that it should be taken as a form of entertainment, truth is that it is seldom taken that way. Gamblers consider it to be a business, an investment, or a way to earn money. They take irresponsible decisions about staking money and risk amounts they don't even have. This leads to huge debts they may never be able to repay. The prohibition of gambling by law is an effective measure to discourage people from its damaging effects. Money that could have been invested in better ways or put to better use is lost in gambling. Money just changes hands between the gamblers and is never really put to good use. It keeps circulating between those involved in gambling, and they keep switching between rich, richer, poor, and poorer. Gambling can make the rich poor and the poor rich, within seconds; that too, only out of luck. It's a fruitless activity actually. But it is tempting to bet money, hoping for a bigger win every time. The allurement is not easy to overcome. And hence it's best done by law. Gambling leads people to borrow money and take secret loans for betting. These practices can best be prevented through the use of rules. Generally, people fear to do something that is illegal. They prefer to remain away from something that is banned by law. The same, on applying to gambling, can prevent or at least reduce the negative effects it has. Hence, it should be made illegal. Making gambling illegal can solve most of the problems associated with it. It will keep a check on the prevalence of gambling practices. Crime is best curbed through the use of law and order. If addiction to gambling is entitled to punishment, gambling practices will become less prevalent or even stop. Strict laws against gambling, and punishments or penalties to those caught, coupled with surveillance, can prevent the number of people indulging in gambling. Many a time, law serves as the best stickler.