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People desperate because of record layoffs and failing investments may turn to gambling as a last resort, said experts who warn the proportion of compulsive gamblers may rise.
Do you expect the bad economy to drive people deeper into addictions? msnbc.com would like to know what you think.
I would think that addiction of all kinds will increase as the recession deepens. Unfortunately, it always seems like the people who can afford it least gamble the most. When I get coffee at the convenience store, there is always a long line of really shabby-looking people who buy $10-$20 worth of lottery tickets every day. For many, it looks like they would be better served by spending the money on food and clothes.
#1 - Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:01 PM ESTBy this logic, during a recession you must drink more coffee. However, I expect that when money is tight, you monitor your coffee drinking more closely and protect your assets by drinking less. People who gamble do the same, even pathological gamblers. Casinos are closing during this economic downturn and so are Starbuck's franchises.
Uh since when is it our job to protect people from themselves? What happened to an adult being responsible for their own actions and common sense coming into play. If you have a ton of money and want to gamble good for you, if you have no money and want to gamble instead of pay for food knock yourself out. Last time I checked adults don't have babysitters and are supposed to act accordingly. Compulsive gambling or people gambling that cant afford it isn't a disease. It is strictly the lack of common sense and will power!
Better lock the doors to the gun shops and to the liquor stores because murders will go up during this time as well alcholics. People need to stand up and be accountable for the choices they make not have some watchdog look out for things to help them not make bad choices.
#2 - Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:13 PM ESTI am 64 years old and have learned that when I say something so incredibly insensitive and uneducated, it comes back to me double.
This article seems to want the prevalence rate of compulsive gambling to increase. However, the rate was 0.7 in the middle 1970s and now in the late 2000s the rate is 0.6 according to new studies despite more gambling opportunities. The rate has been relatively stable across economic up and down turns. What seems to increase during economic periods of crisis are the purported experts who make silly statements. Compulsive gamblers have less money during economic downturns just like most others; in fact, if they have been pathological gamblers, they likely don't have any money left. If they aren't yet pathological gamblers, then what they have is tight. It is simply illogical to assume that they gamble more with less.
#3 - Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:58 PM ESTI tend to stay away from Casinos, because I find it useless that I would blow so much money in one night when I have alot of purchasing power, even if small, to buy stuff that I could use. I mean I spend at least $45 dollars on myself a week for my meals. People will continue to go anyway, and continue to lose their money. I just feel bad when thoose gamblers start nibbling on their 401k or Mortgage so they can get a whole lot of money when in reality they wont break even.
#4 - Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:36 PM ESTWith so many new Indian Casinos being built all over the country and many in suburban communities it will just keep getting worse. I live in California and there are 4 casinos within 25 miles of my city. It used to be one would have to travel a great distance to gamble on slots making it just something you could do while on vacation. Now it's just a 10-20 min drive. And the Indian Casinos are raking in the big money. While at the same time in their greed, they are dis-envowing so many of their own tribe members so that they don't have to share their profits. And so that they won't take any losses because of the economy, laying off employees so that the tribe members keep on making money. Many members bringing in about $10K each a month. This is in our own backyards, not just Vegas.
#5 - Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:43 PM ESTI agree with indigo on this one. Depression rates soar with recessions and addicts of all kinds are most suseptible. Their way of feeling better may not make sense to people like Chad, but an addiction is a disease not a matter of will power, and compulsive gamblers may seek solace at the casino. Their chemically off-balance brain may convince them that just once more and they will win and all their problems will be solved. When they lose they are shocked and spiral into their addiction by trying again and again to beat the odds. As far as statistics go, they don't take polls at casinos to see who is addicted and who is not. The only way to do the stats is by counting the people who are in treatment for it. Most gamblers will never admit to others they have a problem until they have lost everything and there is no other way out. Compulsive gamblers are full of shame that they hide within for fear of the opinions of people like Chad. We should have more compassion. This article isn't asking for anyone to babysit others, it is just stating an idea that will show itself to be true or false as our economy crumbles.
#6 - Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:13 PM ESTWe save our pocket change and go about every 6 months or so. It gives each of us about 75-100 dollars to play. We don't miss the change and it's something different to do for an evening.Always come out with nothing but the credits make the buffet pretty affordable! Guess we are not lucky. LOL
#7 - Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:36 PM ESTThe simple solution would be to end gambling in all fifty states, and include huge fines with jail time for offenders.
#8 - Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:56 PM ESTProhibition has not worked for alcohol and tobacco use. Unlikely it will work for gambling. People have been gambling since at least the beginning of recorded history.
Yes that is much more simple than allowing people to do whatever they wish with their money. May as well prohibit drinking, smoking, driving too fast, and dating ugly chicks too while you are at it. The fact that gambling is illegal is a joke to begin with, who cares.
I think the notion that gambling will increase in the downturn is totally absurd! Has anyone seen gaming results in the past year? The opposite happens. Your trying to hold to your money, gambling is the last thing people will turn to. Again. look at all the top gaming co resultsl, look at the downturn in Vegas? Come on now!
#9 - Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:02 PM ESTUnfortunately, the recession will drive people to go back to their addictions, which will only make things worse.
#10 - Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:44 PM ESTActually, intemperance is responsive to changes in the economy. While some people might spend their last dollar on their addiction, even more will cut back to save their more valuable few dollars on needs rather than wants. Recession provides a good reason to stop drinking or gambling. During periods of recession there are fewer discretionary dollars and less recreational free time. Without these two key elements, people gamble less. The stock market is reflecting that trend for the American gambling industry.
i have been a compulsive gambler from the moment i began ..so instantanious ... i cannot recall gambling any other way .i would spend everything i had .. which was nothing ... be gone for days .. up for hours ...just on the pure adrenalin i got from the gamble of it all...just as bruce roberts stated. and the american gaming associsation can deny all they want to .. of course they will . they want us to keep gambling ... we make their payroll ... fact of the matter is ... we want to keep gambling too and we will do exactly that ..with no regards to any financial issues ..looking back now .. i really have no idea where i came up with the money to gamble with every single day ... every day .. unemployed .. ok .not for just an hour .. for days my friends ... but i definately met my gambling needs and i did it for years .with no job .. no husband. ok .. no income .. so if u think the layoffs and the economy are going to effect us .. let me say yes they may be used as our next justification or our next excuse .. but .. really .. we will gamble in good times or bad times ... its the rush of the gamble not the financial outcome .
#11 - Sun Feb 1, 2009 12:06 AM ESTI have heard all of the "statistics" on compulsive/problem/pathological gamblers. I don't believe a word of it. Gambling is one of the most invisible addictions there is. Usually the small numbers come from the very group that is funded by the gambling industry. I would think that group would tread lightly. There are some good studies out there but hard to find. Some come from Canada. I can't even imagine a good way to get a real handle on the numbers of compulsive/problem gamblers. All I know is, it is an insidious, progressive, dangerous disease. It took me about 10 years to reach my "bottom" and I was one of the "lucky" ones. I didn't completely destroy myself. But, I have and had many friends who did. Just quit? That idea would be funny if it weren't so sad. It would be like saying - quit eating, quit breathing, quit sugar, quit buying......... I have quit and will celebrate 5 years in May. I tried many times to "just quit". Twelve step programs, support groups - whatever takes are more important now than ever.
#12 - Sun Feb 1, 2009 11:07 AM ESTnice .. point ... touche ... i like you . good for you my friend . i hope you do well forever.. :)
Thank You! I wish you the very best as well. I joined a twelve step program almost 5 years ago. It has worked for me. It can work for anyone as long as they want it. People who are "normal" gamblers will never understand what it is like. I don't understand other addictions. But I do understand Addiction. It is never easy but if you come out on the otherside intact, you have something a whole lot of "normal" people will never know. It is like knowing someone or something wants you to be well. Or more.
Actually, one of the most interesting observations about the research on gambling disorders is that the highest prevalence estimates of the problem come from research funded by the industry. The lowest estimates come from research funded by the federal government. Check it out.
Also, lots of research shows that people do not progress; many get better. While this might not be true in some cases like JonnieK, it is true in most cases. I wish Jonnie and others the very best of luck and good wishes to stay healthy.
Thank you for your good wishes. I feel very healthy. I have actually read a good many reports and studies about gambling and find their methods and results lacking. I moved from Las Vegas to Missouri last year (not because of gambling). The year before I moved here, Oklahoma had the largest number of Indian casinos, 83 at that count. The number is well over a hundred now. They line the borders of Oklahoma. I am working with people from small communities on the MO side. I believe there are many more problem gamblers than anyone realizes. I also know the recidivism rate is very high in any program, including Twelve Steps. I am not sure what you mean by progress as opposed to getting better.
#13 - Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:50 AM ESTBy progress, I meant that the conventional wisdom suggests that once gambling problems begin they only get worse. The scientific evidence seems to show that most people actually get better. Unfortunately, some do get worse, but more get better than worse. Again, the national studies with representative samples show a consistent finding that the rate of gambling problems is about the same now as during the middle 1970s, before the explosion of gambling opportunities in America. Obviously, any one person with gambling problems is one too many. Again, I wish you and any others who are suffering with gambling problems a speedy recovery and good health.
#14 - Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:29 PM ESTYou're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |
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