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Gambling. What is Gambling?. Webster defines the intransitive verb “gamble” 1a. to play a game for (as money or property); 1b. to bet on an uncertain outcome; 2. to stake something on a contingency: SPECULATE. It defines the transitive verb “gamble:”
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What is Gambling? Webster defines the intransitive verb “gamble” 1a. to play a game for (as money or property); 1b. to bet on an uncertain outcome; 2. to stake something on a contingency: SPECULATE. It defines the transitive verb “gamble:” 1. to risk by gambling: WAGER; 2. VENTURE, HAZARD.
What is Gambling? • Gambling is playing a game of chance or betting money on the outcome of an event, race, game or outcome. (Gambling Education for Teens, California Council on Problem Gambling) • A simpler way to think of gambling is that any time you participate in an activity, in which you try to win more than what you had before, you are gambling.
What is Gambling? • Games of Chance • Arcades, Rolling Dice, Lotteries, Bingo, • Scratch & Win, Flipping Cards, Raffles • Sweepstakes, Sporting Events • Games of Skill • Poker, Pool, Darts • Video Games, Race Track, Marbles • Sports
Types of Gambling Normal Gambling - • what most people (estimated at 95 percent of the population) do for fun and entertainment. • They have a limit to the amount of money they will use to gamble, and when they’ve reached the limit they will stop. • Win, lose or draw, they stop when they choose. They may gamble once a year, once a month or once a week, but it does not cause problems with their day-to-day life.
Types of Gambling Problem Gambling - • Starts when people gamble over the limit they have set for themselves and gamble longer than they thought they would. This may start to happen on a regular basis. • They may start to have problems with their family, school or work because of it. • They can stop when they want to and may not be addicted yet. • (Problem gamblers are 3-5 percent of the population according to the Harvard Medical School Center for Addiction Studies MetaAnalysis.)
Types of Gambling Pathological or Compulsive Gambling - • An addictive illness. (The Harvard Medical School Center for Addiction Studies MetaAnalysis reports that slightly more than 1 percent of the population is pathological or compulsive gamblers.) • The person has an uncontrollable impulse to gamble and can’t stop. • These people may skip meals, lose sleep, forget to pick up their kids from school, and avoid doctor appointments, school, work, or even life just to gamble. • It’s all they want to do. • They may file for bankruptcy, get a divorce, lie and steal from others, and even commit suicide because of the mess gambling has caused in their lives.
The three phases of compulsive gambling are: • Winning Phase – fun, exciting, entertaining, “rewarding” with occasional big wins. Unreasonable optimism, fantasies about the big win. • Losing Phase – loses consistently while betting increases. Preoccupation with gambling, sells personal possessions, borrows to bet, personality changes, gambles to recoup losses (called “chasing the bet”), misses work or school. • Desperation Phase – stealing, criminal activity to cover bets, panic and depression, alienation from friends/family, drops out of school/loses job. Self-esteem destroyed. Thinks about suicide.
Legal? • In every state, except: • Hawaii • Tennesee • Utah • Kentucky (some) • Total gaming revenues in U.S. exceed $600 billion anually.
Teen Gambling Warning Signs • Unexplained need for money • Valuables and money missing from home • Frequent cards/dice games at home • Missing or late for school; misses social gatherings • Excessive and intensive TV sports watching • Interest in periodicals reporting sports results • Carrying large amounts of cash • Short, late-night phone calls to 900 numbers
Teen Gamblers are Often: • Intellectually astute • Articulate • Sociable • Charming and loving • Philanthropic • Energized and enduring • A risk-taker • Achievement oriented • Dreaming of the “big win” • Cleaver – rationalizes and • justifies the compulsive • behavior • Focused on hobbies that include gambling • Often insecure and manifesting low self-esteem • Unrealistic about goals • Hooked by distorted optimism
Teen Gambling Warning Signs • Gambling paraphernalia • (betting slips, lottery tickets) • Sells prized possessions • “Forgets” appointments and dates • Drop in grades and loss of non-gambling funds • Cultivates gambling language • Gambles to escape problems or disappointments • May become addicted to alcohol or other drugs • Often resorts to illegal activities to finance gambling
How to Spot a Problem Gambler • Always thinking about gambling or having an urge to gamble that they can’t stop. • Having to bet more money more often to keep up the thrill of gambling. • Being really cranky when trying to cut back. • Lying to hide gambling. • Making bets through illegal activity. • Trying to win the money they lost by gambling more. • Using gambling as an escape. • Making people they love unhappy. • Relying on others to help them when they lose all their money. • Not able to control or stop their gambling.
If you suspect someone has a gambling problem and needs help,call 1-800-GAMBLER