Gambling, for the right reasons, can be a fun and entertaining pastime that could see you win some cash as a bonus. The challenge often comes when gambling turns from being harmless to an activity that is reckless and harmful.
However, why would we willingly engage in an activity that has two sides to its engagement? There are several theories, but one prevalent one is that people just want to have fun. Humans continuously seek stimulating ways to navigate the world.
One particular exploration of this says that people seek novel stimuli as compared to familiar stimuli. The tendency is to be passive when exposed to familiar contexts, whereas exposure to novel contexts creates active engagement.
Senses are constantly directed toward that which is yet unknown. Needing to know and learn is a transient attention response for heightened perception. In essence, the factors that create a sense of excitement and fun for the individual.
Why choose to gamble?
Ultimately, gambling is consumable entertainment. Engaging in gambling activities requires awareness. Four motivators often lead to gambling.
- The social motivator: Social inclusion is a motivator for a great number of things. When the gambling activity is tied to the positive feeling of being included, it can be a great motivator.
- The financial motivator: Gambling becomes synonymous with winnings and financial gains. This could be a motivator, particularly in times of financial hardships.
- For entertainment: Fun is a sufficient motivator. The feeling of exhilaration and thrills – it’s possible to find these in gambling. The feel of chasing the grand price, thus providing a seemingly endless ride on endorphins.
- The coping mechanism: Gambling becomes a choice and escapism from a bunch of negative feelings or situations. These could be financial, emotional, and/or mental.
Whatever the drive that led to selecting gambling, it is always advisable to ensure to maintain a balance in your behavior at all times.
A 360 network
Gambling stops being fun when it is causing harm. Social and mental considerations need to be protected and is protected. Gambling is a regulated activity. This just means some laws govern conduct, with people that monitor.
Even though it is being provided as a consumable service, the service providers are expected to behave in a particular manner. When consumers make use of the service, they can hold the service providers accountable for their actions. Remember, individual has responsibility for their actions and choices.
The Government
Gambling legislation also considers the protection of vulnerable groups in its legal framework. These are persons who could easily fall prey to the ills of gambling, causing harm to lives and well-being resulting from gambling activities. This group comprises:
- Persons who have biological risk factors.
- Psychological risk factors.
- Social risk factors.
The regulator
The primary objective is to ensure that all content within the legal framework is being complied with. In protecting gamblers, they ensure that children and vulnerable persons are protected. Licensed operators are not using gambling as a source of crime. They can enforce penalties on those who fail to adhere to the legal stipulations.
Industry
A licensed operator will agree to the regulations that will ensure they can be held accountable in the name of fair play. Safety and security measure terms need to be in place to protect identity, privacy, and financial engagement with the gambling operator. Player due diligence is assisted by Australian gambling sites such as topaustraliangambling that follow the aforementioned directives.
Community
As active participants, directly or indirectly, the community’s important role is in influencing public policy and being advocates for public health. A healthy community is supportive and actively seeks the maintenance of a healthy environment. Thus, within the legal framework, they can respond to the negative impacts of gambling.
What type are you?
There are three types of gamblers. Each type is driven by a motivator as to why they choose to gamble. Based on what type of gambler you are, this can greatly affect your experience in your gambling outcome.
The professional gambler
This classification of gambler plays for the skill of gambling. They will often select games that require skill like horse racing and poker. They are aware and therefore invest just the required resources in their activities.
The Social gambler
These see gambling as a social activity and place little value on skills to continue gambling. They too invest just the right amount of resources in their activities.
The problematic gambler
They often see themselves as aspiring professional gamblers. Their denial of gambling being the problem often outweighs the cost to their finances and general well-being. For this gambler, the activity is no longer fun but an obsession towards winning and additive.
How to keep the fun in gambling
A recent study concluded that it is possible for gambling to remain a fun activity. Wood and Griffith argue that healthy gambling is when you play for financial gain and are engaged in other activities as well. Gambling is problematic when it becomes a form of escapism for problem players and is often their only social activity.
Fun gambling features include:
- Seeing gambling as a form of entertainment.
- Use personal strategies like setting a play limit before gambling and leaving credit cards at home when leaving to gamble.
- Gambling should not supplement a negative mood or emotion.
Some other activities to consider engaging in along with gambling:
- Physical activities
- Social activities
- Volunteering
- Meditation
- Travelling
- Exploring new hobbies
The study suggests that when gambling is the only fun activity the player engages in, this increased the likelihood that the gambling will no longer be fun. Therefore, it’s important to maintain a balance.
Final note
It is very possible to have fun when gambling. There is legislation in place that protects gamers from encountering harm. Civil organizations are there to assist as well when placing wagers becomes problematic and assist in ways that reduce harm to players. With all the information and support being offered, there is little room not to ensure that gambling can be a fun activity.
