Medway Council said gambling debts could lead to domestic abuse, stress and self-harm.

BBC: Betting machine

Nearly two-third of both women and men said that they would never help their children pay off gambling debts.

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Legend has it that the law was crafted when the toffs of the Jockey Club were mired in gambling debts.

ECONOMIST: Horse-racing

One gambler, who did not wish to be identified, said he had lost his partner, job and now feared losing his house because of his gambling debts.

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"I paid gambling debts" with mackerel, he says.

WSJ: Mackerel Economics in Prison Leads to Appreciation for Oily Fillets

Counterparties like Goldman Sachs, knowing it could use the bankruptcy laws to force AIG to sell high quality assets to pay off its gambling debts, played them like a Vegas card sharp never losing a minute of sleep worrying that the rube might go broke.

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