What is Gambling?
You’re in a twinkly casino, surrounded by glitzy lights and booming music. The drinks are flowing, and you’re ready to roll the dice and see if Lady Luck is on your side. But before you get carried away, take a step back to understand what gambling really is.
Gambling is the wagering of something of value on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. In order to gamble, three elements must be present: consideration, risk, and a prize.
While most people who choose to place bets do so responsibly, a small percentage develop gambling disorders. These individuals experience a persistent and recurrent pattern of gambling that causes significant distress or impairment in their daily functioning. They are unable to control their gambling behavior and often lie or try to conceal it from others. They may also rely on other people to provide money for gambling and can jeopardize or lose a job, career, or educational or training opportunity as a result of their gambling.
Generally, the onset of problem gambling occurs during adolescence or young adulthood, with people in their early 20s being the fastest growing group of problem gamblers. Almost all of them began gambling before the age of 18.
There are a number of steps that can help someone who suspects they have a gambling disorder. They can start by talking to a family member or counselor about their feelings, or contacting an organization that specializes in the treatment of problem gambling. They can also make an appointment with their physician to discuss their concerns. They can also learn about the warning signs of a gambling addiction and find ways to overcome them by participating in a group or individual therapy program.
Gambling is an expensive form of entertainment, and you should only gamble with money that you can afford to lose. You should avoid using credit cards, have someone else in charge of your finances, and close online betting accounts. Lastly, be sure to always tip the dealers – if they give you a cocktail, it’s because they work hard to serve you. A few dollars is not a big deal, but you should tip them regularly. It’s also important to remember that gambling is not a way to make money, and if you start losing it all, don’t chase your losses. Postponing gambling is a great strategy to use when you feel an urge to bet; tell yourself that you’ll wait five minutes, fifteen minutes, or an hour and as the time passes, your urge may pass or become weak enough to resist. If the urge persists, try distracting yourself with other activities such as going to the gym, watching a movie, or practicing a relaxation exercise for gambling cravings. Try to remember that money lost gambling is never recovered. Ultimately, what goes up must come down. The law of gravity applies to money as well as to the stars in the night sky.