One percent of households around the world suffer from a family member with a problem gambling addiction. Lotteries have been a part of human history since its beginning.(Ariya 1) The gambling and lottery industries are growing ever bigger every day making billions of dollars. Getting sucked into the system is all too easy and it usually takes a few visits or a few cards. Gambling also has many negative emotional and psychological effects. The gambling and lottery industries take more than people give, it’s addicting, and it ruins families. Lotteries are a big business that has been legalized in more than 100 countries and 200 jurisdictions.(YUE 1) The biggest and most popular kind of gambling facility is casino. Casinos are big buildings that contain a plethora of different styles of gambling. These places make on average $630,000 per day. Last year the casino industry brought in about 76 billion dollars. Casinos usually make their money by offering up a promise of big wins and huge cash-outs but, you usually lose more than you start with. Now with the use of the internet, online gambling has become the fastest growing form of gambling in the world. Nearly three-thousand internet gambling sites offer wagering on sports, casino games, poker, bingo, lottery, and other games.
The problem with gambling and lottery is that one percent of the population is problem gamblers. This means that gambling takes up parts of their lives and creates problems. Most of these problems come home and makes trouble in the household. Gambling and lotteries can keep family members out for long periods of time keeping them from their parental responsibilities. Often people end up with crippling debt as a result of gambling and end up owing money and in the worst case losing their homes. Gambling, like drugs, is an addiction and can affect the brain in similar ways. People end up quitting their jobs, or skipping a few days, just so they can get in more time gambling. They enjoy the feeling of winning and it captivates them making them unable to quit. The nice interior and flashing lights of casinos don’t usually help with this making it only more enticing. Gambling is not just a financial problem, but an emotional problem as well. Gambling addiction comes in many forms but the most common is a craving for gaming. This addiction can happen to anyone and nobody can predict who will develop an addiction. Problem gamblers often experience restlessness or irritability when trying to stop gambling and think about gambling constantly. Many will try to seek out gambling as a way to relieve stress only to cause more stress afterwards.
They usually end up lying to conceal their gambling activities making the problem even worse. Gambling addiction could be a result of but not limited to: retirement, traumatic circumstances, job-related stress, emotional upheaval, such as depression or anxiety, loneliness, the presence of other addictions, and environmental factors, such as friends or available opportunities. People who have a problem with gambling could also have potential problems with alcohol or drugs.(Nord) There aren’t only problems with gambling as there are some benefits to the economy. The casino industries must pay up to six percent in taxes which is a couple hundred million dollars. Casinos also open many job opportunities for people and elderly people find gambling a form of gambling, whether it be slots or bingo. For working people gambling can be a relaxing get away from the stress of the day. Gambling within reason and not spending more than you can afford can be a healthy way of enjoyment. Everything has its own good, as long as it is done in moderation.
