One of the biggest gambling losses!

I thought any gambling winnings were offset by the losses. Seems she lost a lot more than she won. Why would she be paying taxes except for the money she took from her husband's trust account?

Wow, now that is a true example of a sickness.I wonder how much the brain tumor (and her grief) attributed to her, seeming, obsession. Very sad story.

I read about this the other day. I have a problem with the way it is reported though and it was the same where I read about it. Here is the headline:

Quote:

San Diego Ex-Mayor Confronts $1 Billion Gambling Problem

but when you read the article

Quote:

..while she had made well over a billion dollars in bets at casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and San Diego, her actual net losses were around $13 million.

$13 million on $1 billion in bets is 1.3%. Thats the same proportion as losing $1.30 after wagering $100. It is an absolutely enormous amount of money but in the end it is a relatively small loss on the amount wagered consistent with play on low house edge games like video poker or maybe blackjack if played poorly or with bad rules.

Quote:

Still, to wager a billion dollars over the course of her nine-year gambling spree, Ms. O’Connor would have had to bet the equivalent of more than $300,000 a day, seven days a week.

That does not sound right to me. $300,000 x 365 x 9 years = $9,855,00,000 which is almost $10 billion.

Whoever wrote and/or edited the article cannot grasp simple mathematics.

Beat up headlines and dodgy reporting aside, it is disgusting that she stole from a charity to feed her addiction and I sincerely hope that she gets the treatment that she needs and is able to repay the money she stole. I am also surprised that she is not headed to jail as a lot of people with a lot less money go to jail for a lot less.

That is the media for you, CL-Ed.

And, yes, it is disgusting she took from the charity, but honestly, people like that will do whatever they have to do to get their hands on that money to continue gambling. She probably honestly (in her sick mind) intended to just borrow a little then "pay it back," and before she knew it things were out of control. I can honestly see how this can happen, even if it sickens me.

I wonder if the brain tumor affected her decisions or if that is an excuse. I guess it would depend upon what part of the brain the tumor is effecting.

Still, very sad indeed. 😢 This is what true addiction does to people.