No

by Anthony Megna

Created on: March 01, 2011   Last Updated: June 02, 2011

Gambling addiction is an emotional problem, and gambling for the addictive personality is a pursuit to "fill the holes" in an addict's life. Most addicts gamble for the rush it brings, just as a drug addict shoots heroin for the rush. The pursuit of the rush becomes the most important thing in life for the gambling addict, and it is rarely about the money. The money is just a vehicle, such as a drug, to obtain that rush.

According the National Council on Problem Gambling, 1% of the population are considered pathological gamblers. Another 4 to 7% are considered problem gamblers, that is, gambling is having a serious impact on their lives. Do casinos contribute to the problem? I really don't think so, as anyone with a computer and who can get access to the web, can gamble. There are thousands of gambling sites on the web, and one can play almost any game they can think of for money. Poker, blackjack,craps and other casino games exist at the touch of a button, and is a lot easier to access than making a concerted effort to get out of the house to visit a casino. So no, casinos aren't the sole reason for compulsive gambling. But do they contribute to the problem? Well, that is like saying that the country of Columbia, or Bolivia, is the problem for cocaine addicts. They are just countries where the coca leaf grows best, and I believe that is the extent of it.

The facts are that gambling has been around since the dawn of Man. Dice made of animal bones have been found in the tombs of Egypt! Lotteries helped to finance the United States, and George Washington was a huge proponent of them. So, one could argue that gambling has had some positive benefits. But like everything else in life, some folks have to take it too far. I think the real issue is balance in life, or moderation.

Just like prescription drug abuse, some people don't know when enough is enough. Drugs have a positive benefit for millions of people, but some folks abuse them. If someone has a tendency to have an addictive personality, banning casinos isn't the answer, because that person can gamble on the Internet if he or she so desires, as previously stated. No, gambling addiction is an emotional problem, and gambling is just a vehicle for said addict to try to reach some unreachable goal.....

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