The gaming industry, which involves various gambling activities, such as horse wagering, sport betting, online gambling, casino games, and lottery, has expanded rapidly since the nineteenth century. However, gambling has become problematic because those types of gambling are accessible by anyone at anytime via venues, Internet, casinos (over age 18), and other public places. Further, several participants may develop addictive behaviors during gambling and they cannot quit. This essay will explain the problems linked to gambling, outlining personal and relational harms, as well as the risk of associated disorders. Then, solutions will be illustrated, including provisions for education and medical aids by governments, monetary control and support from others.
Game participants with addictive tendencies usually suffer from pathological gambling, which can significantly increase the risk of developing undesirable dependencies. According to Oei & Gordon, the influences of pathological gambling on individuals and society frequently involve serious financial consequences, family issues, illicit behaviors and mental disorders. (as cited in Ashley & Boehlke, 2012, P. 28). Those are caused by behavioral addictions, such as loss of control. Basically, many gamblers cannot control their behavior when it comes to gaming and continue putting money into it. To them, it means they may have chances to win and make good for their losses. According to Kealy & Chiechi (n.d.), losing control over gambling is the most severe negative effect to gamblers who experience pathological symptoms. Likewise, inaccurate perspectives, including misunderstandings, demonstrate that the odds of winning are not observed as impartial when, actually, they are (Ladouceur, 2005, P. 52). Also, monetary concerns need to be considered as participants may take out valuables from relatives or loans from banks or casinos. If they do not discharge those possessions, it can likely damage their relationships and become bankrupted by the debts. Gambling Impact Behavior Study reported roughly 25% of gamblers on pathological and problematic issues recorded for insolvency (Ashley & Boehlke 2012, P. 32), and the indebted rate were over 25% than gamblers, and 120% than non-gamblers (Nower, as cited in Ashley & Boehlke, 2012, P. 32).
Gambling may also contribute to several illegal acts. Gamblers desire to gamble, but they need valuables to risk. Therefore, participants commit crimes, such as theft and scam to gamble. In a study from Europe and North America, 55% of 21% to 85% problematic gamblers in North American countries have been detected by Blaszczynski, Steel, & McConaghy (as cited in Arthur, Williams & Belanger, 2014, P. 53) that they have perpetrated the crimes to ensure that they have money to gamble. Moreover, mental distress happens frequently among gamblers including insomnia, paranoia, suicide and anxiety. A study in the United States displays that both feeling anxious and depressed as well as developing disorders are linked to increasing risk of problem gambling, even after adaptation of gambling problems (Scherrer, Slutske, Xian, Waterman, Shah, Volberg, as cited in Bakken, Götestam, Gråwe, Wenzel & Øren, 2009, P. 338). Several problem gamblers may regard suicide as panacea to emotive disorder and financial pressure (Hodgins, Mansley & Thygesen, as cited in Ashley & Boehlke, 2012, P. 33). Solutions to the prevalence of and the related problems of gambling could involve therapy provided by governments and education. Primarily, addicted gamblers need to have professional treatment via psychologists (one on one) and group support. For instance, in Germany 2009, the government assessed to provide treatment for problematic gambling (PG), including in-patient treatment centers or out-patient clinics, addiction counseling services and self-help groups (Steppan, Künzel & Pfeiffer-Gerschel, Süss & Pfeiffer-Gerschel and Gamblers Anonymous, as cited in Ludwig, Kräplin, Braun