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I feel that gambling addiction is more serious than drug or alcohol addiction…
I disagree with that statement. Sure gambling addiction can be more devastating financially but gambling doesn’t cause you to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and crash head on into someone else injuring or killing yourself or an innocent person. Gambling doesn’t kill you from an overdose and as far as I know it doesn’t cause you to go on a rampage and kill your family like those wrestlers on steroids.
I feel that a central body, similar to eCOGRA or the like, should be asked to set up a register where gambling addicts could register themselves for exclusion from all forms of online gambling.
I suppose that could work if gambling addicts could actually admit they have a problem and register themselves. I am also unsure how many online casinos would be willing to comply with blocking an addict from gambling at their casinos. Thats easy money for them.
Rob472;170130 wrote:I am also unsure how many online casinos would be willing to comply with blocking an addict from gambling at their casinos. Thats easy money for them.I’m sure most online casinos / poker rooms want to be more than just “street corner pushers.”
@ixian 170136 wrote:
I’m sure most online casinos / poker rooms want to be more than just “street corner pushers.”
Thats the problem though…all the reputable ones would but all the scam artists wouldn’t. So the individual could still play and would be far less safe doing so. And an independent body wouldn’t have any legal clout to penalise those casinos that didn’t sign up.
The only real chance of a solution to the problem is regulation.
I also disagree that gambling is a more serious addiction than others, quite the opposite.
People get addicted to everything from alcohol and nicotine to other drugs including steroids to adrenalin and extreme sports and jogging as well as sugar and carbs and caffeine and what have you.
Most of these can cause loss of life – that of the addict or that of others, violence toward self or others and physical deterioration.
Gambling – like they say, it’s only money. This is not to minimize the impact of losing all your money and the repercussions it may have in your family, I am just saying gambling is not deadly and doesn’t make you violent or sick. It is a mental addiction, not a physical one. Most addictions are both. Gambling is hence easier to cure.
That said, I agree with the rest of your post.
I feel that a central body, similar to eCOGRA or the like, should be asked to set up a register where gambling addicts could register themselves for exclusion from all forms of online gambling. All online casinos would have to reference this list, like a credit check, before opening any new customer accounts
This would go a long way to raise the credibility of the industry.
At this time, gambling addicts and parents can use http://www.gamblock.com/ to block access to gambling related items on their computer.
There are a number of excellent Gambling Addiction support groups like Gamblers Anonymous and most of the top operators support them.
Self control and moderation ultimately falls to the individual. There is no 100%fool proof way to keep people from destroying themselves financially, physcially, spiritually or otherwise if they are determined to do so.
Educaton and support is the best we can offer to reduce addiction problems.
Maybe not worse than drug or alcohol addiction but, imo, just as bad. I have a friend who over the past two years or so has developed a gambling problem. He has lost a good job, his wife has divorced him, his young kids don’t understand whats going on. He is continually depressed and every time he gets a bit of money he is off gambling. He believes that he may get one good win that will solve all his problems. It’s really sad.
We have all tried to help but as the Prof says ultimately he has to make a decision to change and only then can we truly help.
I feel that a central body, similar to eCOGRA or the like, should be asked to set up a register where gambling addicts could register themselves for exclusion from all forms of online gambling. All online casinos would have to reference this list, like a credit check, before opening any new customer accounts
That would certainly be good. Some of the big UK sportsbooks also restrict the amount you can spend per week which is good I think.
@Dominique 170140 wrote:
Gambling – like they say, it’s only money. I am just saying gambling is not deadly and doesn’t make you violent or sick. It is a mental addiction, not a physical one. Most addictions are both. Gambling is hence easier to cure.
I can speak from both ends. I was addicted to one of the stronger narcotic’s out there, and yes I did get ill and throw up, but to say gambling addicts don’t, it’s not true. They don’t as often as the addict, but I have seen it, I also have gone to plenty of GA meetings where people have talked of friends who got shot because they didn’t pay, or had thoughts of suicide. or ended up in a rehab. I have someone very close to me who was playing BJ on line and when he was up, not down, but up, he was trembling so bad I couldnt believe it.
I too have several gaming website so please don’t think I am trying to preach to you, but gambling can cause death, broken homes, life on the street etc.
I’ve read that gambling addicts do have a higher suicide rate than other types of addicts. The fall out from the suicide of a family member has a long and lasting effect on the loved ones left behind. I’ve also read that gambling is one of the hardest addictions to cure.
IMO……what ever the type of addiction it happens to be, doesn’t just affect the person that is addicted….addiction of any type leaves a wide circle of hurt and pain to loved ones and family.Not that I am equating them, but you do not see drug pushers also handing out flyers for drug rehab, while most respectable online casinos have links to Gamblers Anon or other such organizations, etc.
Food for thought.@james 170202 wrote:
Not that I am equating them, but you do not see drug pushers also handing out flyers for drug rehab
Not quite true…my doctor does both :tongue:
