• Negative Effects Of Online Gambling
• Online Gambling Negative Effects On The Body
• Online Gambling Negative Effects Drugs

• Length: 6 pages
• Sources: 6
• Subject: Family and Marriage
• Type: Essay
• Paper: #84178636
• Related Topics: Effects Of Divorce, Borderline Personality Disorder, Effects Of Divorce On Children, Family And Medical Leave Act

The effects of a gambling addiction are often quite clear. A large number of people who engage in compulsive gambling will use credit cards and debit cards to pay casinos or internet gambling organizations. If you engage in problem gambling, you will most likely incur debt, damage your relationships, and lose sight of your goals in life. Some of the negative effects of gambling addiction include mental health problems, money worries, family frustrations and changes in personality. Gambling is when a person places a bet or wager to win money on something that has an uncertain outcome. You might be short tempered, easily annoyed or simply stressed. Suddenly, you’re feeling the effects of gambling. It might not happen straight away, which is probably why many people don’t understand the negative effects of gambling. But it’s worth being aware that gambling is not all about the money.

Excerpt from Essay :

Gambling
The negative effects of gambling have been researched, touted, published and spewed forth from the mouths of researchers and do-gooders for decades, yet there has been an astonishing lack of research accomplished on the positive aspects of gambling influences on modern society (or even past societies for that matter). The reason behind such paucity might be that there are no positive aspects to gambling and that it leads to a plethora of problems that have negative connotations written all over them. On the other hand, it could also be that researchers have just not taken the time or made the effort to determine the positive aspects primarily because it is so easy to see the negative over the positive. This lack of effort on the researcher's part could also be that they do not wish to be seen personally commending an act that so many others find reprehensible.
Yet, gambling (or as some call it 'gaming') continues to grow and thrive in America today. A recent report determined that there are over 53 million American gamblers, that is defined by the industry as 'folks who have gone gambling more than five times in a given year' (Nealon 465). Based on the current population of the United States, 53 million is over 26% of the adult population. Great Britain has an even higher incidence of gambling with some reports stating the 71% of Britain's adult males and 67% of Britain's adult females gamble at least one time per month. What is really troublesome about these figures is highlighted by another recent study that determined that 'for every individual with a gambling problem it is estimated that somewhere between five and seventeen other individuals are adversely affected by it' (Valentine, Hughes 275).
What the study did not find was whether those same individuals who are adversely affected by the problem gambler are also positively affected when the gambler wins (assuming that he or she wins at least once in a while).
A 2006 review of gambling found that the most common problems reported by a gambler's family include the fact that he or she loses household and personal funds, gambling initiates arguments, causes anger and violence, is at the root of lies, deception and neglect of family members, negatively affects the gambler's personal relationships, leads to poor communication and a confusion of family roles and responsibilities and can lead to other destructive behaviors and addictions (Kalischuk, Nowatzki, Cardwell, Klein, and Solowoniuk 2006) while another survey found that amongst problem gamblers 'divorce and separation are common' (Orford, Wardle, Griffiths, Sproston, Erens 259).
All of the above mentioned problems are very negative when taken out of context. When one looks at them as integral parts of society, a different picture can emerge. First of all, gambling creates jobs. This is true in that the gambling industry in America now legally employees hundreds of thousands of individuals. Each of these employees pays taxes, hence revenue to the government (local, state and federal) are enhanced by income from productive employees. The economies of many local communities thrive on the taxes generated through nearby casinos and gambling institutions; without the gambling halls, places such as Mesquite, Nevada would not be the thriving communities that they are. It is not just the casinos and gambling halls that provide jobs, however. Based upon the 'destructive behaviors and addictions' found by Kalischuk et al., one could see a vibrant community of doctors, therapists, specialists, psychologists and psychiatrists whose main source of income is derived through the active treatment of those individuals with gambling problems.
It has been found that 'somewhere between five and seventeen other individuals are adversely affected' by family members who gamble, but what about the people who are helping these gamblers; aren't they positively affected by gamblers? Although a research of literature could not uncover any figures that would support the thesis, it would be interesting to determine exactly how many positively affected individuals there are as compared to negatively affected individuals.
Another source of contention would be two studies conducted by Lorenz and Yaffee. These two researchers found that '86% of spouses contemplated leaving the gambling spouse and 29% did separate from the problem gambler' (Lorenz % Yaffee 1988) and that '59% of problem gamblers considered separating from their partners and this did occur in a third' (Lorenz & Yaffee 1986). If one were to look at the Lorena and Yaffee findings in a negative manner, one would lament the fact that
so many problem gamblers consider, and leave, their spouse. Looked at in a positive manner, however, one could say that there are many divorce attorneys living in communities adjacent to cities such as Las Vegas, and that many of these attorneys make a very good living off the misfortunes of those who concentrate more on their gambling habits than on taking care of their families. One could also say that an individual who acted in such a manner, did not really deserve to be a father, mother or family member in the first place. Hence, let them gamble. If they wish to ruin their own lives, and the lives of their loved ones, that is their choice, and there will always be some other individuals that will benefit from such choices.
One could even take a hard core attitude towards the family members who are adversely affected by the gambler's actions by correctly discerning that there are no such things as adverse effects. Spouses and children who go hungry, or are without clothes or shelter due to the wasteful and destructive nature of the gambler become stronger individuals through having to live through such adversities. If they do not become stronger, then they too can become problems to society and therefore will also be a negative influence on their families and loved ones as well. This is not a negative aspect to gambling; remember there are other (more intelligent) individuals who benefit from the actions of the (not so intelligent) individuals who continue to throw their money away on games of chance.
The recent British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) revealed 'that there are a number of socio-demographic factors statistically associated with problem gambling; these include; being male, having a parent who was or is a problem gambler, being single, and having a low income (Griffiths, Wardle, Orford, Sproston, Erens 209). If this is true (at least in Great Britain) then it is further evidence that the curse of gambling addiction runs within families anyhow, so attempting to cure these individuals that are afflicted with gambling problems is a long and arduous procedure. Just because it is difficult to do, does not mean that there should be no one that takes the time and effort to do so. After all, there are livings to be made, and incomes to enhance through the travails of others. Helping problem gamblers to overcome their addictions is not a laughing matter. With nearly 26% of the adult population of the United States known to be gamblers, and the current rate of approximately 1% of these to be addicted to gambling, the figures show that even concentrating on helping that one percent means that there are over a half a million individuals who need counseling and treatment. This is a good number; it is a number that allows for a lot of professionals to make a lot of money.
Other negative aspects that have been connected to gambling include smoking, drinking and poor health. The Griffiths et al. study determined that:
(i) cigarette smokers were significantly more likely to gamble in the past year compared to non-smokers,
(ii) cigarette smokers were over three times more likely than non-smokers to be a problem gambler,
(iii) alcohol consumption as measured by the number of units drunk on the person's heaviest drinking day was not significantly associated with having gambled in the past year,
(iv) alcohol consumption as measured by the number of units drank on the person's heaviest drinking day in the past year was significantly associated with problem gambling,
(v) health status was not significantly associated with past year gambling
(vi) the prevalence rate of problem gambling among those with poor health were over three times as likely to be a problem gambler compared to those with good health (208).
This information opens a brand new ball game. Now even more professionals can be induced to assist in caring for, and treating these gamblers.

Negative Effects Of Online Gambling

Specialists who help those with drinking and smoking problems, and of course doctors, hospitals and clinics will all benefit financially from proffering assistance to those gamblers who fall into one of the five above categories. Suddenly the positive influence displayed by those who suffer from gambling addictions is becoming much clearer. The five to seventeen people who are adversely affected by the gambler's actions may be equaled to the number of people who are positively affected by those same gambler's actions. Additionally, a recent study determined that 'problem gamblers also have increased rates of attention deficit…

The impact of problem gambling often spreads further than the loss of money or the mounting debt. A feeling of isolation is very common – with shame and guilt making it difficult to talk about the issue. There may be a tendency to stay away from work, college or school in order to gamble. In addition, a preoccupation with gambling can lead to a lack of interest in maintaining relationships and a lack of motivation to engage in social activities.

Online Gambling Negative Effects On The Body

As continuous funds are required to gamble, there may be an increasing reluctance to spend money on items of clothing or necessary household goods. There may also be an unwillingness to pay utility bills, instead choosing to spend the money on gambling. Problem gambling can be progressive in nature and problem gamblers can end up engaging in criminal activity to fund their gambling. This can lead to lifelong consequences with criminal convictions.

Is gambling affecting your mental health?

Online Gambling Negative Effects Drugs

• Are you experiencing some or all of the following?
• Having extreme emotions or mood swings?
• Feeling that gambling is the only thing you enjoy, to the exclusion of other things?
• Finding it difficult to sleep?
• Feeling depressed or anxious?
• Having suicidal thoughts?
• Using gambling as a way to deal with other problems or emotions in your life?

As well as the more obvious effects that a gambling problem can have on a your financial situation, there can also be a serious impact on your mental health. According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, problem gamblers are more likely than others to suffer from low self-esteem, develop stress-related disorders, to become anxious, have poor sleep and appetite, to develop a substance misuse problem and to suffer from depression.

Although a lot of people gamble to escape feelings of depression or other mental health problems, gambling can actually make these conditions worse. One reason that problem gambling can affect mental health is the way people experience ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ when gambling. If you gamble a lot yourself, you may have found the experience of anticipating ‘the big win’ to be very mentally involving and extremely exciting, perhaps better than feelings created by any other activity. You may also have found the devastation of losing to be a massive low, leading to feelings of despair.

This is especially the case in very high-risk forms of gambling, where very large amounts of money are being staked. This increases the potential for the massive ‘high’, but also makes the ‘low’ feel worse when it comes. Feelings of loss and despair following a gambling spree can lead to greater desires to gamble straight away in order to try and get back on a ‘high’. However, by continuing to gamble, any negative feelings only get worse.

Is gambling affecting your relationships?

Having a gambling problem can be very all-consuming, and as well as the effect on the gamblers themselves, it can have a devastating impact on their relationships with other people, their friends and family. This can take various forms, especially the following:

• Arguing more with your partner or family, especially about money, budgeting and debt
• Being preoccupied with gambling and finding it difficult to focus on other things
• Spending less time with people and more time gambling
• Lying to friends and family about losses
• Stealing money from friends and family to gamble with

Instead of spending time with partners and their family, or fulfilling commitments, gamblers may choose to spend their leisure time gambling. This can lead a partner or family member to worry that the gambler does not care about them anymore, or that they are somehow less important. This can lead to emotional distance or tension in the relationship. It is often the case however, that the gambler is so tied up with the gambling behaviour that they are unable to think about anyone else.

There can also be increased arguments over the family budget and finances when there is a gambling problem in the family. Often the gambler is convinced that they will be able to sort the problems out themselves, when in reality they need help to stop gambling and resolve their debt problems in a more realistic way. Broken promises and deceit can mean that partners of gamblers can lose trust in their relationship, especially if the gambler has tried to stop gambling several times but has ended up returning to the behaviour. It’s easy to see how all of these factors can cause stress to a relationship and lead a partner or family member to question the value of it. Sometimes there is also a lot of guilt involved as a partner may wonder if the gambling problem is their fault, or if they have somehow contributed to the problem. Problem gambling in a family can also have an effect on children – the impact of stress within the family unit and potential loss of relationship with a parent can have lasting consequences.

Are you in debt due to gambling?

Are you spending more than you want on gambling or struggling to find the money for bills? Gambling problems and financial issues really go hand-in-hand. A financial crisis is often what brings a person to address their gambling. It’s also not uncommon for partners, friends or family members of problem gamblers to tell us that they did not realise their loved one was a problem gambler until there were serious financial consequences such as a court summons for non-pa yment of debt or repossession action on their home.

Financial problems can really mount up. Bills don’t get paid, debts accumulate. If you have credit cards, you might max them out to pay your bills, or worse, to keep gambling. At this point, payday loans may look like a solution – but their high interest rates and charges are likely to make the situation worse. Business-owners can also find themselves in debt due to using business money to finance their gambling. A common dilemma for someone with a gambling problem is how to get out of debt. For many, the chance to continue gambling in order to win it back and make everything alright again can feel overwhelmingly tempting. It might also feel as though there is no chance of repaying debts accrued through gambling unless you carry on gambling, so you feel completely trapped.

However, think of it another way. If you are struggling to control your urge to gamble, a win will probably not clear your debts, as you won’t be able to stop gambling to pay them off. The temptation to repeat the thrill of the win would be high. A phrase we often hear is ‘I cannot win because I cannot stop’. In the end, losing more money and making the situation worse is inevitable. Also, using more gambling as a way of solving a debt caused by gambling in the first place is unlikely ever to be effective. It may feel like clearing your debts gradually will take longer, but in reality, continuing to gamble will only make things worse in the long run and may leave you with a far greater amount of debt.

The idea of owning up to your debt problems can be frightening, and you’d rather people didn’t know. Taking control of your debt problems and looking for another way of solving the issue can however be very empowering. You’ll be able to relax and feel that those things are being taken care of, leaving you to address other issues that your gambling has created, and think about stopping gambling altogether. The effects of problem gambling on your life can be very serious from a financial point of view. However, the impacts of problem gambling should not be viewed in purely financial terms. Once gambling becomes a problem the negative impacts on your life can cost you more than money.

The isolation of the problem gambler

Many gamblers report that they get a sense of ‘community’ from the environment they gamble in – for example the betting shop, or people they talk to online. Problem gamblers can lose interest in maintaining real personal relationships as their preoccupation with gambling intensifies and they can suffer from social isolation. Ordinary life sometimes doesn’t hold the same appeal as the gambling ‘high’. Arguments, strained relationships, failure to meet responsibilities, alienation, separation, divorce, physical or mental abuse can all be a feature of the life of a problem gambler.

Often a problem gambler can isolate themselves due to feeling guilt or shame, or because they have borrowed or stolen money from people in their life to fund their gambling. It can feel as though there is no way back into the real world. There can also be a declining interest in hobbies as gambling can dominate thinking. Problem gamblers often say that they are still thinking about gambling, even when they are not actually gambling. Some have even referred to dreaming about gambling in their sleep, such is their pre-occupation with the next bet. Problem gamblers also report issues maintaining their working life or career, due to mental preoccupation with the gambling world.