Should we outlaw gambling because of its addictive nature?

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Should we outlaw gambling because of its addictive nature?

        Millions of people like to gamble, whether it is casino-style games, lotteries or betting on the global net. For some gambling is an addiction, a sickness just like alcoholism or cancer, that can destroy lives but for others it is just a way to have some fun; that’s why there are some positive and some negative aspects about gambling. Is the negative point of view strong enough for us to want to outlaw gambling because of its addictive nature?

        Gambling can only be seen as entertainment if the person gambling has limits on to how much he or she bets and know when to stop. A gambler starts betting with small amounts of money and slowly larger and larger bets will follow. There are three stages in gambling addiction, according to the Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc: winning phase, losing phase and depression phase. The gambler thinks he creates a better self-image by betting, and losses are seen as bad luck. Think of what problems may be caused by the non-stop obsession to win more money after losing some. People’s lives change completely because of that. The gambler keeps betting until he loses all his savings and this is where the depression phase comes. The person is now controlled by the slot machines which seem to be more important than his family, his job and his other responsibilities. First of all the family’s savings will be reduced since most of the income will be spent on gambling and if it’s not enough this is where theft and criminality comes. The addictive person will begin to steal money from others or borrow money from friends, frequently absent from work and this concludes to his total change of his character and personality. The gambler is now obsessed with winning to cover excessive debt but he can’t stop if there’s no control, no limits and no support. A family or ones life can be destroyed by a single high bet that makes the person lose control which then leads to high debts and when debts cant be paid the person needs to go to court and later in jail for not being able to pay them.

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        However, gambling can also be seen from a positive point of view. Casinos and online betting sites provide jobs for millions of people who are depending on these for their income. If gambling is banned then all of them will lose their jobs and become unemployed.

        Also, many people gamble just for fun during their spare time and know how to control their betting amounts. For some gambling is considered to be a pure game that reduces stress and is a way out from their responsibilities and every day problems.

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