The author begins with an overview of the many nations from ancient to modern times which have been accused of fostering widespread gambling of a harmful kind and looks at persons both historical and contemporary who allegedly gambled to excess. The difference between moderate and immoderate gambling is often not clearly separated by writers on the subject. However, characteristics of the excessive gambler may include the following characteristics: (1) gambling is habitual; (2) gambling absorbs and precludes all other interests; and (3) the gambler cannot stop when winning. As part of the effort to control gambling, the British Gaming Board argues that new recruits to gambling can be limited by avoiding the artificial stimulation of demand, and has succeeded in limiting the numbers and locations of gaming clubs. Gambling presents society with a problem very similar to that presented by the availability of alcohol: how to arrive at a balanced response which helps to minimize the dangers of immoderate use while at the same time detracting as little as possible from the enjoyment associated with the moderate use by the majority of citizens. Table (a typical questionnaire for self-diagnosis of compulsive gambling)