The process of gambling is not as cut-and-dry as most people make it out to be. Gambling is simply the wagering on something with an unpredictable outcome with the intention of winning something in return. This concept can be broken down into three factors: risk, consideration, and value. Gambling therefore requires three factors to exist: risk, consideration, and value. Let’s take a look at each of these to better understand how gamblers approach the game.
The first factor, risk is simple to quantify. What makes gambling so dangerous is that the consequences of your actions will always differ from what you expect. In gambling, the consequences are not always what you expect. Because of this, some gamblers become addicted to the excitement and thrill of betting on games, and if they do not manage to lose all their money, some then become emotionally attached to the habit and develop feelings of guilt or shame. These negative impacts on the gambler’s mind can negatively impact their health, relationships, and ability to live a normal and happy life.
The second factor, consideration, is also easy to quantify. Gamblers can only gamble when there is something to gain or lose. Gambling addiction does not take away these benefits. However, this factor is where most people who suffer from problem gambling begin to show symptoms. Most gamblers start to lose more money as time goes by, and eventually if they do not seek help, this problem becomes a physical dependence.
Last but not least, the third factor, value is where gamblers start to delve into the darker recesses of their mind. Many gamblers who suffer from addiction seek help because of the psychological aspect of addiction. Gamblers may have developed pre-existing problems with their self-esteem or have experienced abandonment issues in their childhood. Gamblers who develop problem gambling addictions often lack self-confidence or are under the constant pressure of an inner critic.
The psychological and emotional factors of problem gambling addiction are very real, and they are just as important to recovery as the physical symptoms of excessive betting or the intense cravings that gamblers experience. One of the best ways to beat gambling addiction is to break the psychological chains that bind the gambler to the addiction. Gamblers can greatly improve their chances of recovery simply by making changes in their thinking. This means that gamblers need to address both the physiological and emotional aspects of their gambling problem.
Luckily, the United States government is taking steps to address the issue. A bill called the Stop Gambling Project is attempting to make gambling on the internet a form of gambling activity in its own right. Gamblers may still be restricted to games within the state in which they live, but online gambling may not be legal everywhere. This bill would allow the state to block gambling websites from operating from within its borders. There are also a variety of international gambling crime laws which are being enforced in order to curtail the high volume of money that slips across state lines every year. Hopefully, these efforts will help reduce the amount of Americans who have succumb to the dark side of the internet.
