¶ … Compulsive or pathological gambling [...] pathological gamblers and why they do not gamble for entertainment or retreatist purposes, but rather to try to chase their losses and beat the machine or the game they are playing. Pathological gamblers do not know how to stop gambling and in trying to chase their losses, they turn into problem or compulsive gamblers. Problem gambling is a huge problem in society today, and with the prevalence of casinos in so many more areas of the country, it just continues to grow. Some experts believe pathological or compulsive gambling is not a disease, however, most experts agree compulsive gambling is a life-threatening disease that not only affects the gambler, it affects all of those around him or her, from family and friends to employers, business associates, and creditors.
Compulsive gambling is a disease, and it affects far more than simply the gambler, as any loved one will tell you. The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) defines "problem gambling" as behavior that:
Includes, but is not limited to, the condition known as 'Pathological,' or 'Compulsive' Gambling, a progressive addiction characterized by increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, 'chasing' losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences (Editors).
The key to understanding pathological gambling is to understand that despite the "negative consequences" the gambler cannot stop their behavior. They can lose their home, their family, their job, their possessions, and everything they hold dear, yet they will continue gambling whenever they can. The losses mean nothing to them, because they are continually chasing that elusive win.
How do people become pathological gamblers? Most experts agree that pathological gambling usually begins with a significant gaming win. These experts note, "These windfalls self-gratify the player's perception of competence and power, whereas losses are perceived as circumstances of chance"...
As such the stigma that once existed concerning gambling no longer exists. People are therefore more likely to engage in gambling activities and more likely to develop an addiction to gambling. The author further explains that even though there are still social conflicts concerning the implementation and expansion of certain types of gambling such as, video lottery, terminals gambling has become a largely accepted practice (Cosgrave (2010). In addition,
Gambling Bioethics Gambling: A literary review Gambling has a paradoxical role in modern society -- while it is a legal and socially-acceptable activity, it can also be highly addictive and yield negative consequences for the bettor. A literary review of existing studies on gambling behavior suggests that certain factors are likely to increase the behavior of gambling activities The higher the involved 'information search,' the higher purchase intention on casino's consumers In general, the more
) (2003,p. A20). Vatz notes that those who gamble too much and suffer as a result have freely made that choice as "No force extrinsic to willpower forces people to gamble" (2003, p. A20). Opponents also use the argument that African-Americans suffer "alleged disproportionate financial devastation" (Vatz and Weinberg, 2003) when organized gambling is legalized. They also, however, cite research that notes that "blacks actually are less likely to gamble than
The Gamblers Anonymous group makes the point that they are not affiliated with any particular religion, but they have spiritual tenets within the structure of their recovery program. They also indicate that compulsive gambling is not a financial problem; it's an "emotional problem" and along with the addiction the individual involved can begin experiencing problems with his or her marriage, with employment, with friends and with the law. The Mayo Clinic
Legalized Gambling Gambling is defined as the staking of money as well as goods that have a material value on a particular event with the intention to win extra money (or material goods with value for that matter). The result of this wagering becomes evident in a short period of time. It has now become a commercial activity that is conducted internationally, meanwhile the legal gambling market was estimated at $335
At the same time, there are several examples of corruption within casinos in terms of employees. In Atlantic City, for example, one of the largest gambling rings was recently infiltrated in November of this year. Police charged twenty three individuals including six casino employees, with illegal sports gambling. According to reports, the group took in more than $22 million in bets on college and professional basketball and football games since
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now