Gambling is a risky activity that involves wagering something of value on the outcome of a random event. It can be fun and exciting, but it can also lead to financial ruin. It is important to understand the risks involved in gambling so that you can avoid them.
The popularity of gambling has increased rapidly since 1974, when it first began to emerge as a widespread social phenomenon. The rapid expansion of gambling can be attributed to several factors. The Depression of the 1930s shifted society’s focus to money; business became more concerned with ’the bottom line’; and technological advances provided easier, less resistant ways to raise revenue for government expenditures.
Moreover, gambling has been marketed as a fun and exciting pastime that offers the chance to win a lot of money. The ad campaigns have targeted socio-cultural constructs such as rituals, mateship, winning and success, status and reputation, hedonism, and thrill and adventure. This marketing is particularly effective with young people, and it can be facilitated by media coverage of celebrity gambling.
The rise of gambling has led to the development of a wide range of products, and it is estimated that the total amount of money wagered each year in the United States is now more than $550 billion. This is more than ten times the amount of money wagered in 1974. It is also more than three times the amount of money wagered in 1989. In addition to the tremendous increase in the amount of money being wagered, there has been an equally dramatic increase in pathological gambling, which is now classified as a mental disorder by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
People who have a problem with gambling exhibit a number of clinical symptoms. These include: a history of excessive gambling; a continuing urge to gamble even after experiencing significant negative consequences; lying to family members or a therapist to conceal the extent of involvement in gambling; jeopardizing a job, career, or education opportunity, or stealing money to finance gambling; and chasing losses, i.e., trying to win back the money that was lost. Those who have a gambling problem also exhibit poor stewardship practices, as they are using money that could be better invested in meeting basic needs or advancing a worthy cause.
If you are a serious gambler, the best way to control your gambling habit is to limit the time you spend at casinos and other gaming establishments. Start by allocating a fixed portion of your disposable income for gambling and stick to it. It’s also a good idea to set a timer, and when it goes off stop gambling, whether you’re winning or losing. It’s easy to get wrapped up in gambling, especially in places without clocks and windows, so you can easily lose track of time and continue gambling for a long time. Also, try to balance your gambling with other activities such as sports, reading, spending time with friends and family, or volunteering for a charity.
