Top 3 Reasons Why the U.S. Has One of the highest Rates of Gambling Addiction
Gambling refers to the voluntary wagering of something of monetary value on an occasion with an unpredictable outcome with the objective of winning something in return. The basic idea of gambling is that people are usually involved in it when they feel that they may not have another opportunity to win on that occasion. It may also be related to an ongoing conflict, such as a bet between friends or family members. Gambling involves three components for it to take place: risk, consideration, and a reward.
Gambling addiction is a result of the interaction of all three components. When a person becomes addicted, he begins to view the rewards as outweighing the costs, to the extent that they become the single factor which determines a person’s entire existence. The person’s life may become unproductive because he is unable to stop gambling on his next chance, no matter how much money he will lose in the process. There is a higher risk of relapse into gambling, because the user may not have fully considered all the consequences of his actions. Some addictions may even start as a reaction to a traumatic event, for example, when a person is cheated by his dealer. In these cases, the problem is not gambling at all, but a true addiction.
Gambling addiction is also closely related to other addictions, such as alcohol and drug abuse. The two often occur together because they share symptoms like compulsive betting, thrill seeking, and the need to control outcomes. People who suffer from alcoholism or other addictions may often gamble in place of meeting their drug or alcohol abuse needs. The same is true for people suffering from gambling behavior disorders, who may use their gambling income to buy drugs or alcohol.
As mentioned, a major cause of gambling may come from the United States. A number of states throughout the country allow judges to hand down large amount of fines for those who bet more than a set amount in a single game. The most popular games for these fines are horse races and lotteries. The reason why lotteries are favored in the U.S. is that state governments do not want to cut funding for vital public services, so they allow the creation of lotteries to raise funds.
A second reason that the U.S. has one of the highest rates of addiction related to gambling is that it does not have many gambling enforcement agents. Gambling addiction is not treated the same way as drug addiction or alcohol addiction, which makes it more likely for addicts to lie about their true level of involvement. Because it is easier for gamblers to cover up their addiction, many addicts will go to great lengths to avoid detection and incarceration. Gamblers are very good at lying about their habits, because the problem is easy to hide.
Those who are addicted to gambling, whether they do so intentionally or not, will need help. There are many organizations that can provide the help that the person with a problem needs. The National Council on Problem Gambling has developed a variety of resources to provide support for gamblers and treatment for those who have gambling addiction. Gamblers Anonymous is a great resource for those who suffer from compulsive gambling problems. If you, or someone you know, find that you are suffering from compulsive gambling it would be a good idea to check out the links below. There is a lot of useful information on this website that can help those who suffer from gambling addiction.