Gambling has never been this accessible. Before, you’d expect casinos to be found in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, but it has grown over time. Now, gambling has flourished, even including ready access to lotteries, online games, and video games with gambling elements for adults and children, like gacha games.
As gambling has become easier to do, there will inevitably be stakeholders who have become more concerned that more people will not just have a taste for it. Instead, the big worry is that more people will incur gambling problems. Although it might be too early to make predictions, numbers never lie; evidence has been expanding that young men are most vulnerable to gambling addiction. Unfortunately, they are the same target audience most often targeted by sports betting and video game-based gambling.
In this article, we’ll talk about the link between gambling and mental health!
Gambling And Mental Health
Online bingo and its accessibility are part of the problem. However, the truth about gambling and mental health happens in many manners; it has become more prominent than gacha games. It is about a person. And it is about people. And it’s about their habits.
Plenty of young people see gambling as an escape from problems or negative emotions. Out of five people (1 in 5, and 18%) of 11-16-year-olds stated that they would most likely turn to gambling if something worrying them were happening. The information provided came from a recent Young People and Gambling Survey.
When gambling cannot be controlled, it can be unruly and hard to control. And it’s a domino effect: it can have a severe impact on mental health, causing stress, anxiety, and depression. This can get even worse, especially as young adults who have existing mental health issues are more vulnerable to harmful gambling.
Those who have gambling issues have preexisting issues with their mental health and substance use. Those who have mental health problems possess a higher-than-average risk of engaging in problem gambling while not feeling well and emotionally stable.
Risks
In 2013, gambling problems, previously called pathological gambling, were considered an impulse control disorder until it was changed to an addictive disorder. Among the other addictions in DSM-5, an increasing tolerance that requires more gambling as time goes on to feel satisfied is one that largely carves out the character of pathological gambling.
Young people who have mental health issues and people who have low incomes are more likely to be more vulnerable to this addictive behavior. These are people who want to gain a big win. Men outnumber women with the likelihood and possession of the disorder. However, some women have it.
Beyond Operators
Despite the rising risks, some believe that there is more. Self-awareness and self-exclusion have to become the responsibility of gambling operators, some believe. It is also a problem that payment providers and ISPs can help.
Wrapping Up
Gambling and mental health meet where stress is: it is stress that often drives gamblers to the arms of casinos. Despite the odds, it is essential to be careful when gambling. It is not that gambling is inherently wrong, but there are risks, especially for those with low incomes and mental health problems. Remember to gamble responsibly!
Disclaimer:
- As per the Public Gambling Act of 1867, all Indian states, except Goa, Daman and Sikkim, prohibit gambling
- Land-based casinos are legalized, with certain guidelines, in Goa and Daman, as per the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act 1976
- Land-based casinos, Online gambling and E-gaming (games of chance) are legalized in Sikkim under the Sikkim Online Gaming (Regulation) Rules 2009
- Only some Indian states have legalized online/regular lotteries as per and subject to the conditions laid down by state laws. Kindly refer to the same here
- Horse racing and betting on horse racing, including online betting, is permitted only in a licensed premise in select states. Kindly refer to the 1996 Judgement by the Supreme Court Of India here and for more information
- This article does not endorse or express the views of Qrius and/or any of its staff.
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