Gambling Addiction

Introduction

Over the past two decades the legalized gambling in the USA has enlarged to the position where the gambling is accessible in each state except Hawaii and Utah. Therefore, the society of the USA has altered gambling in one of the major sorts of entertainment in the current popular culture. The US Gaming Association reports the casino sphere obtained nearly $72 billion in gross revenues during the fiscal year of 2003–2004, the huge boost from the $25 billion made in 1995 (Fong, 2005). Gambling participation levels over the past year have been reported to be approximately eighty percent of the adult general populace. With the boost in accessibility of this recreational activity, there has been a simultaneous upswing in gambling’s acceptance. Additionally, gambling became a part of the modern USA through the popularity of TV poker tournaments, fantasy sports, and, of course, Web gambling. This research paper is meant to speculate on the issue of gambling. The paper describes types of gambling, enumerates the major reasons for gambling and describes dangerous psychological effects of gambling.

Psychology of Gambling

Gambling has been described in lots of ways but may be best depicted as “placing something of the value at risk on the result that is due to mere chance.” Conventional types of gambling comprise the casino games, card playing, sports betting and lotteries.

Most players lose. So, why do humans bet their own hard-earned cash? Gambling suggests the opportunity of winning cash or prizes, but there are other reasons for playing. An insight into the psychology of gamblers offers insight into the issue (Fong, 2005).

Social: playing is accepted as an aspect of country’s culture and as such is anticipated in by the majority of people. Some youngsters are introduced to gambling by playing cards with own parents at home, at times they play bingo with friends or play after school at the local amusement arcade.

Escapism: gambling atmosphere may offer the escape from everyday living. Whether these are the extravagant casino surroundings, loud and thrilling amusement arcade or even the Web-based betting company, for the time that people are taking part they may be surrounded by dissimilar humans, dissimilar emotions and sounds, all of which stimulate and arouse the senses.

Risk Taking: one of the grounds for playing is that it is human character to feel thrilled once taking risks. The feeling of anticipation develops the natural high, adrenalin rush, a feeling that some humans believe they cannot live without.

Glamorous: media and advertising companies realize the psychology of playing and frequently depict the stylish, sexy, chic image of gambling. On TV and in movies, people observe the characters enjoying evening at a casino or the afternoon at races. There is usually the hint of “high society” and at “the spot to be seen.”

The Common Misperception: all above grounds for gambling tie into this: most individuals believe gambling is the low-risk, high-yield offer. In fact, it is the opposite: the high-risk, low-yield state of affairs. The odds at all times favor the house. In spite of that, the thought and thrill of hitting casino jackpot are usually extremely alluring – regardless of the probability. Besides, gambling may cause the psychological addiction, which is much worse than money gone (Shaffer & Korn, 2002).

Pathological Gambling

The existing concepts of gambling depict the total spectrum of gambling-related conducts, from the recreational to dangerous pathological. Many grown-ups who gamble on a social basis and do not acquire long-term or lasting troubles related to gambling. The entertainment lasts for the period of time, and there are predestined acceptable losses. This sort of gambling conduct, recognized as the social gambling, is believed to represent approximately eighty percent of individuals who ever gamble (Fong, 2005).

The following level of gambling attachment may be depicted as the problem gambling: people who play in spite of troubles in own lives caused by gambling. These can comprise people who lose more cash than planned, who spend a lot of time while gambling, or who may select gambling as the major form of recreation, usually at the cost of other recreational activities. Theoretically, this category is similar to the alcohol abuse and is believed to reflect people who are at the hazard of becoming pathological players. Existing epidemiological research offers two to three percent of the American adults fit into this group, though the formal criteria continue to be developed (Fong, 2005).

Pathological gambling is the real disorder, which may have many varied and unintended outcomes. From the medical point of view, pathological players are at increased hazard to evolve stress-related conditions, for instance, sleep deprivation, peptic ulcer disease hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Usual psychiatric sequelae of gambling comprise exacerbation and initiation of the main depressive episodes, anxiety or substance usage disorders (Shaffer & Korn, 2002). Unintended psychological outcomes can additionally comprise intense degrees of shame and guilt, deceptive practices, and sensitive impulsivity/impaired decision-making. Lastly, the social outcomes of the pathological gambling may be huge, usually varying from connection with the legal system to reduced productivity at work to stressed interpersonal relations (Fong, 2005).

This paper demonstrates that the pathological gambling has serious consequences for marriages, families and offspring. The information from dissimilar resources paints the image of the pathological player’s family as chaotic and disturbed. The addicted person’s close relatives usually suffer from addictive disorders and mental health. High levels of separation and divorce are also documented. The player’s retrospective report of the family of origin offers the individual history of parental neglect and abuse. These effects seem to carry on to the following generation, since the gambler’s own nuclear families are usually the aim of neglect and abuse. Spouses and children of players bear the brunt of stress within a family suffering from the physical and emotional turmoil. Ultimately, the youngsters are at risk for evolving pathological gambling, continuing a cycle of neglect and abuse into the following generation (Shaw et al., 2007).

Conclusion

This research paper speculated on the issue of gambling. The paper described types of gambling, enumerated the major reasons for gambling and described the dangerous psychological effects of gambling. Generally speaking, many people gamble and never experience any troubles. They merely play for fun, know that they will most likely lose some cash, and only bet sums they can afford to lose. After gambling, they go back to the usual activities and other duties. Nevertheless, for some people, gambling may lead to serious troubles. Moreover, the trouble of pathological gambling becomes more entrenched in the society as playing opportunities carry on expanding. The interventions for pathological gambling have to take into account the personal marital and family dynamics. To neglect the requirements of the family does the damage to all involved. The individual with this disorder cannot be totally understood without obtaining the better acknowledgement of the surroundings from which he came and the surroundings in which he exists.