How gambling addicts are enabled by casinos

Sam Richards
Authored by Sam Richards
Posted Sunday, August 25, 2019 - 9:19am

Before getting into it, it’s important to understand how gambling addiction works. Even though this type of addiction is a non-substance variety, it still starts the same way as other kinds of addition. Before you continue, addiction is a serious issue and something to be wary about. However, enjoying a few rounds at the poker table doesn’t make you an addict. The risk comes in when it takes over your time and if you find yourself desperately chasing losses. It doesn’t hurt to have gambling as a hobby as long as you play responsibly. Feel free to try out some online casino games while keeping yourself in check and all will be well. 

How Does Gambling Addiction Work?

Gamblers are often searching for a way to self-medicate healing as a result of inner turmoil or discomfort. Then, gambling comes along and gives players a temporary fix – a high that comes from a risk or a win or both. As with other types of self-medication, you would need to keep gambling and at higher odds to get the same high. Addiction comes in when gambling controls your life, you no longer have a choice and are dependent on your “drug”. Managing your time and money may seem like basic skills that anyone knows to do, however, casinos do everything in their power to tempt you into playing longer and spending more time playing. 

How Do Casinos Enable Gambling?

The first thing to note is that you will never get uncomfortable in a casino if they can help it. The establishment is adept at encouraging people to stay and gamble for as long as possible. Keep that in mind next time you hit the slots. This is why every basic strategy has the ‘manage your time’ clause, it’s easy to lose time gambling as you get sucked in. 

Besides the more obvious (to an outsider) interior design aspects like the lack of windows and clocks that are meant to keep you unaware of how much time has passed. Another design that is often found in the psychedelic carpets and floor patterns that, believe it or not, keep your attention focused on the activity in the room. 

The games are the biggest enablers as they are developed in a certain way, from the music of video slots to the small wins that encourage you to keep playing. Another way that casinos (both online and offline) enable addictive tendencies is by offering freebies and promotions that tempt you into staying. Like any business, you better believe that they are still profiting off of those promotional offers so don’t be fooled. 

Gambling can be a fun hobby and a great way to kill time. There is no denying that there can be benefits to this activity like learning strategic planning and mathematical skills, however, like anything in life, it’s best to keep it at a manageable and moderate level. If you find yourself dependent on casino games, then be sure to take a step back. Unsubscribe from the promotional emails as these tempt you unnecessarily, the offer isn’t worth spending too much time tempting Lady Luck. 

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