Mega Millions Game Risky for Addicts

People are gobbling up tickets in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

In Iowa, Mega Million sales have doubled everyday since Tuesday's drawing.

Iowans bought 400, 000 dollars worth of tickets Wednesday.

1.1 million on Thursday.

And so far today, they bought another 1.7 million dollars worth.

But, it's not always fun and games.

Some gambling abuse experts say it's big jackpots like these, that can trigger a gambling addiction.

The prospect of winning more than a half  billion dollars can turn anyone into a dreamer.

Lindsy Hurm said, "suddenly that house we've been looking at seems closer to reach. "

Tom Horsey said, "the rest of it I'd split up among the family and they would live pretty comfortably."

But for people who have a gambling addiction that dream is like a drug.

Gambling Treatment Counselor Debra Prier said, "even when they start talking about the mega million their eyes light up they talk about their heart rate and pulse going up. "

According to 1-800-bets-off, 88 percent of Iowans gamble. Three percent have a gambling problem.

Playing the lottery may seem harmless as players only spend a buck here and a buck there.

Prier said, "not only will they play with one ticket, then pretty soon they're like well maybe I should do 5 or 10 tickets."

Prier says that's when people start to get in over their head. They buy more tickets than they can afford.

For recovering addicts, buying just one ticket can lead them down a slippery slope.

Prier "all of a sudden they are playing lotto. They get hooked into that, which can ultimately lead them back to the casinos again. "

That's when the dream quickly turns into a nightmare.