An gambling addiction or a gambling abuse should be stopped at initial stages, else it will just ruin your life forever.
I disagree- anyone can definitely start with a clean slate no matter how dreadful or hopeless their situation may be.
We always have the choice whether to accept the current circumstances or to move-on and start anew. Accepting that your life is just over just because you have lost majority of it is somehow a weak mindset. You always have to remain positive no matter how difficult the situation may be. Sure, you have lost every thing due to gambling but all hope is not lost. There are dozens of people who have fallen to this hole and most have came back up and regained their confidence. I also know some that were able to reconcile and start again with their families.
Again, gambling is destructive but even if you are on the deepest end, there is always hope for improvement and change.