A childhood New Year's holiday spent playing cards with his family planted the seeds of a gambling compulsion that ravaged decades of one man's life. Now 67, the former salesman from western Japan fell into debt time and time again as his addiction drew him to pachinko parlors, then illegal mah-jongg and dice games.

"Gambling permeated my life," said the man, who asked not to be identified for fear of embarrassing loved ones. "My fingers just don't do as they're told. I can't count the number of times my family have had to clear up the mess by paying off my debts."

The man is among thousands in Japan whose gambling compulsion had gone largely unnoticed until a plan to introduce casino resorts forced policymakers to address the problem of addiction. At an event hosted by lawyers who oppose the government's casino plan, he said he only kicked his habit after joining Gamblers Anonymous about a decade ago.