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I am all too familiar with gambling addiction. Actually did some public speaking on the subject. Gambling can be a choice, at first, then it can becomes an addiction were the power to choose is gone. Compare it to a crack addict. The addict started off with a choice, but now has no choice. An gambling addict does not have the ability to choose not to gamble. So to say to a gambling addict just stop gambling doesn’t wash.
I view gambling as entertainment only. Anyone who thinks otherwise has a problem. If my site ever gets finished I am devoting at least two pages on gambling addiction. I do not find comfort in the thought my site could be destroying people lives. Money always comes second to me. greek39
Of course gambling addicts have a choice. So do crack addicts. If the statements you made about addicts not having a choice were true, then no addict would ever quit taking drugs, or stop drinking, or quit gambling.
Everyone who has ever quit an addiction did so because they chose to quit.
I just want a percentage of the vig. I don’t wish for people to lose their house.
So, no, I don’t feel guilty at all. I also try to provide information that helps people win. Not bonus hunting, but sound strategies to increase their odds. Casinos even do that when they hand out blackjack strategy cards.
I also try to steer visitors toward casinos that will be honest and fair with them. In a lot of ways, I feel like I’m trying to do the right thing.
I feel better than I would if I were a commissioned salesperson selling my particular product over others. They’re usually focused on making a sale / commission, and use active techniques for that. I use passive techniques, and let people choose a product they like, and a product I approve of as being safe and fair.
This is an interesting discussion. It is a complex issue, and everyone has made good points. Being somewhat new to things (the gaming industry) the whole idea of gambling addiction and what component of gaming income comes from “problem gaming” has been an aspect of consideration for me just in the process of getting my head around things. It’s good to hear what some other people think and/or feel about the topic.
Hot subject!!
Addiction is in all walks of life as already pointed out – hell some people are even addicted to shopping for shoes…where do you draw the line?
No-one likes to see someone close get into serious difficulty over addiction. Thats why i never recommend casinos etc to friends and play down their chances. But like manufacturing cigarettes, this is a business and people should be free to make their own choices and learn from their experiences.
We’ve all made the decision to enter this area so we can’t really take moral high ground on this issue. What we can do though is present those who wish to play with honest, full and truthful information and provide guidance using our own knowledge of the industry.
Then it’s down to them. That’s why so many sites that just bang on about bonuses wind me up. Even worse, the sites that represent casinos who have a poor reputation. Any webmaster who recommends a casino they wouldn’t risk their own money at should feel guilty, but probably doesn’t, such is human nature.
Cheers
Simmo!
Simmo is right, gambling is just the same as cigarettes and alcholol. It’s one of those type of things where you sell it all the time, and its everywhere, but it’s not meant for the people who abuse it. Just like with alchohol, its just that small portion of people who abuse it and it ruins their life. Everyone else can control it and it becomes a social entertainment that they do every week in parties. Does the bartender feel guilty selling beer to everyone? naaahhh! but if he knew there was something bad happening to one guy, he would try to convince him to control himself, but wouldn’t ban him out totally, he would let him do his own thing, but everyone and every bartender is different. Thats why I think I’ll put up a GA link on my site, I’ve thought about this topic before actually and it’s really interesting. I’ve had tons of fun with online casinos and played for many hours and days (like 10 hours a day), but I controled myself and didnt let it interfer with my other stuff, but i just gotten to the point where I’ve played it so much that it is boring now!
but I still had tons of fun, and I will come back at some point when my poker craving hits in again.Back in 52′ wrote:Does the bartender feel guilty selling beer to everyone? naaahhh! but if he knew there was something bad happening to one guy, he would try to convince him to control himselfThanks for the concern, but I’m doing ok. :1Dopey: Mostly. :cheers:
But yeah, this is kind of a nice thread because we don’t see too many actual philosophical discussions among affiliates in this industry.
Randy wrote:Of course gambling addicts have a choice. So do crack addicts. If the statements you made about addicts not having a choice were true, then no addict would ever quit taking drugs, or stop drinking, or quit gambling.Everyone who has ever quit an addiction did so because they chose to quit.
If gambling addicts just have to choose not to gamble that would be a pretty easy. Dad armed with the mortgage and grocery money can just simply choose not to spend it on gambling, the children can be continued to be feed and sheltered. But this isn’t the case, dad armed with the cash being a gambling addict, there is 99% chance, gambling will be the only thing he is going to spend his money on. Tell me, where is his power to choose to gamble or not to. The gambling addicted dad will stream role the whole family along with himself.
It is not as simply as it sounds, just stop, quit, choose to quit ect….
Only through intensive intervention may dad gain some power to choose.
Anyone with a addiction of some sort knows it just doesn’t boil down to a choice. People with addictions are not in control of their ship, the captain has left. The addiction takes over the controls. Greek39greek39 wrote:The gambling addicted dad will stream role the whole family along with himself.There are lots of things a dad can do to screw up a family. I’d say there are more absent, abusive, or unsupportive fathers than there are gambling addicted fathers.
People have faults and people fail at things. They make bad decisions throughout their lives.
I agree with most of what you said, but I’m not sure gambling addiction is at the top of the list. I personally don’t think I’d have a problem owning a liquor store. I’d just have to keep myself out of it.
If anything really bothers me about gambling promotion in general, it’s the way state run lotteries advertise. They’re ruthless IMO, and have worse odds of winning than any game in any casino. And besides a chance at winning, they offer almost no entertainment value.
We’ve all made the decision to enter this area so we can’t really take moral high ground on this issue. What we can do though is present those who wish to play with honest, full and truthful information and provide guidance using our own knowledge of the industry.
Spot on Simmo.
Nicotine addiction for example is a lot harder to cure than gambling addictions.
Once the afflicted gambler contacts the organization that helps him/her quit, s/he is pretty much guaranteed sucess. The decision is pivotal and the fix is generally permanent.
Not so with nicotine. Took me many attempts and years to quit smoking cigarettes.
Alcohol is even worse, not only is it difficult to really quit for alcoholics, they relapse a lot.
Gambling addicitions are among the rarest addictions and they are the easiest to fix.
I don’t feel guilty, I do provide info that helps people and I do weed out casinos I consider bad. I make myself available to my visitors. I am always ready to help.
Not feeling guilty is different from not feeling sorry for the person and the other people affected.
Gambling addiction is far harder to quit than smoking. Many professionals compare gambling addiction to crack. I have seen it first hand, up close and its very ugly. Picture it this way, the car is there but the driver no longer has the abliltiy to drive his own car. This is how decapetating gambling addiction is. greek39
You are so right Greek……I worked as an RN in a recovery center, we treated all sorts of addicts, and gambling addicts were the worst to cure. They would be in treatment during the day and the casino at night. They have totally lost control of their choices, and generally were in treatment as a court order due to bad checks etc….My heart goes out to any type of addict, they are all difficult situations. I don’t feel guilty about providing information to gamblers and marketing casinos, I need to make a living too. I wouldn’t feel any different working at the local cvc store selling 3-2 beer and ciggy’s to addicts….I feel for them …..yes….but need a job too….
Excellent Discussion Guys!
My thoughts mirror what many of you have already stated (great minds think alike), mainly I believe in the following:
1. I respect the freedom of choice for adults. As long as you are not impacting others negatively you should be free to pursue whatever makes your life more enjoyable.
2. I understand that all decisions adults make carry responsiblity. You will definately be held accountable for what you choose to do, so its in your best interest to avoid behavior that is self destructive. If your behavior or leisure choices are having a negative effect on your life as an adult you will have to modify your behavior or suffer the consequences. This is not a callous view, its a realistic take on what is happening. I realize that its NOT EASY to overcome challenges like gambling, or drugs, or sex, or over eating or violence or anything else that people can become obessessed with, but how we handle those demons is what ultimately defines who we are as people and what sort of life we will have.
3. We are not responsible for the paths or behaviors that others choose to take. Often we want desperately to change someone elses path that is close to us, but we really cant. We must each choose our own way and answer for it. Not always pleasant, but its reality.
