Gambling Addiction

Gambling Addiction

Gambling is the risky wagering, sometimes worth something of value for an uncertain future with the aim of winning something more valuable. Gambling therefore requires three ingredients to be in place: risk, consideration, and a reward. There are some activities that are strictly for fun such as horse racing or bingo but many other activities are undertaken for profit such as poker or online casinos. Many people gamble for profit as they make a return on their gambling investment through the interest earned by the bet, dividends or interest. Some people feel that if you gamble you are gambling but this is not true because there is a difference between chance and skill.

There is a widely held belief that if you gamble you are likely to develop a gambling addiction. The main problem with this line of thought is that most gambling addicts do not suffer any physical addictions such as heart problems or lung disease. Although it is possible that a person who suffers from addiction may find it very difficult to stop gambling once it has started, without the associated feelings of anxiety or guilt this may not be so difficult. Most of the time, the only negative impact addictions have on the gambler is their loss of self-control and in some cases, their finances as they often require gambling as a regular part of their lifestyle.

There are a lot of options available for those who wish to reduce the amount they gamble as a way of reducing the risk of developing a gambling addiction. Firstly, if you do develop an addiction, your first impulse may be to gamble more and although this may be counter-productive, try and decrease the amount of money you spend at casinos or lotteries as much as possible. This can be easier said than done and it may take a lot of discipline, but is well worth it. For example, if you live in an area that has a lot of casinos, try to live some distance away or perhaps use another form of transport to commute back and forth to work.