Gambling

This week's lecture was on Gambling. I have never really considered myself a gambler, as i would have descibed one who HAS to have a bet, either on lottery, cards, casino's, horses, dogs etc. Yet Dennis described having car insurance, house insurance etc. gambling also. So, if i have the odd go on the lottery, buy the occasional scratchcard and insure my property, then strictly speaking i'm a gambler. I'm not particularly convinced of that but still. Maybe a better definition would be problematic and non-problematic gambling then. My actions would be non-problematic, it is occasional gambling that causes no problems either to my self or those around me. Problematic gambling, on the other hand can cause serious problems to people and their families and becomes a compulsion or addiction that ends in people losing their families, homes, businesses and in extreme cases their lives!

Symptoms of problem gambling are:

1) A preoccupation with gambling
2) Reliving past gambling experiences
3) Taking time from work or family life to gamble
4) Concealing gambling
5) Feeling guilt or remorse after gambling
6) Borrowing money or stealing to gamble
7) Failed efforts to cut back on gambling
8) Lying to hide gambling

Personally, i don't see the initial idea of gambling as "bad" for most people. When it becomes an addiction however, it can be ruinous. Apparently gambling addiction is closely related to other substance abuse addictions and can occur in certain people more than others. Those at risk are:

1) Those that start gambling at a young age

2) Men are more prone than women

3) Those with biochemical abnormalities, particularly Dopamine and Seratonin have been linked to gambling addiction.

4) Those whose parent's gambled

5) Those who live close to a casino etc.

6) Those sufering other mood or personality disorders

Check out the links for more info.

http://www.ncpgambling.org/
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/286/2/260.pdf
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gambling.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/compulsive-gambling/DS00443/DSECTION=8