Preview

Gambling: The Horrible Addiction

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
786 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Gambling: The Horrible Addiction
Gambling: The Horrible Addiction
Essay 2: Reflection
Word Count:786

By:

For
Prof. Ted E. Johnston
Engl 1301 11:30 TR
10 October 2013

Pg.1
Gambling: The Horrible Addiction

Gambling is a horrible addiction. It can destroy you and your family. I am totally against casinos and gambling. I have experienced my father’s addiction and it has been the worst thing that has ever happened to him and to this family, so if a loved one falls into this addiction, push hard to make them get help. Gambling and casinos are one of the biggest sources of entertainment for Americans. The adrenaline rush that you get from risking that amount of money attracts tons of people. The desire to duplicate the money in your pocket makes you want to play continuously. Casinos also cash in an unbelievable amount of money. “Gambling generates more revenue than movies, spectator sports, theme parks, cruise ships, and recorded music combined.” As stated on www.pbs.org. Also casinos do create thousands of job opportunities. Business wise casinos do bring enormous amounts of money and jobs but that is only the good side. Gambling can take over your life and if you don’t go to therapies it will soon destroy you. As I mentioned before, the adrenaline rush and the desire to duplicate the money in your pocket can become addictive. The problem of this addiction is that there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers typically deny or minimize the problem until they are left with nothing. Gambling could become a worse addiction than any drug. Gambling has destroyed thousands of lives of individuals as well as their families. Pg.2
My father was an addict for 3 years. Only 3 years it took him to be left with nothing. Our financial hardships have led him to gamble. He started with just some visits to the casino per month and not spending a lot of money. Soon enough he became addicted. Instead of bringing

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The cognitive explanation of addiction focuses on the way humans’ process information, viewing addicts as people who have faulty thoughts/judgements. The faulty thinking that surrounds a gambling addiction, according to the cognitive approach, is the belief that we will win, or at least be able to control the odds of winning, for example, a gambling addict, using his/her ‘lucky numbers’ on the lottery gives them some control over the outcome of the gamble.…

    • 570 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gambling is a significant issue in this book, showing from how it can be addictive to how it almost possesses a person. Aunt Beryl had a gambling problem she had a win at the poker machines. and played almost everyday, and how beryl steels from Carl to get the money to gamble with, leaving Carl with no money for himself or Harley. Gambling is an awful habit that in many cases is hard to escape from and has a big impact on not just one person but friends and family.…

    • 763 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It is true gambling is not for everyone, especially stupid people. “Why?” you may ask. It is because stupid people make stupid choices. There should be a limit to how much money an individual can gamble with per year, depending on their income and winnings. This is traceable by their taxes. For example, if one person makes $40,000 per year, and have no dependents, they are only allowed to gamble $10,000 to $15,000 for that fiscal year. This will ensure that the individual’s life may still function.…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Asian Gambling Culture

    • 1808 Words
    • 8 Pages

    I was born in Vietnam, which is located in the Eastern part of the Indochina peninsula, bordering China to the North, Laos and Cambodia to the West, the Eastern Sea to the East, and the Pacific to the South. My father moved from the North to the South after the officially unification of the North and South Vietnam in 1975. He met my mother, and they got married. My parents and most of my extended family aren’t big on gambling, so I personally never understood the appeal and thrill of gambling. A couple years ago, my parents had sent me to study abroad with the hope that I am able to have a better education in the United States. Once I started to go to college here, I have a broader perspective about the world I live in. However, I also experienced isolation, boredom, loneliness, stress and depression. Therefore, I tried to find an activity to feel included, and to relieve stresses of everyday life. Every weekend some friends and I had a poker night, and the locations changed as each of us take turns hosting the game. There were ten of us whom usually play and we all are Asian. I would say that I had a great time with the group. At that moment, gambling became a great way for me to get out, be around friends, and have fun. Gambling perhaps appeals to me because of its social aspects. Nevertheless, I have seen the damage gambling can cause when someone cannot control themselves. Beginning as a regular activity which is acceptable and entertaining, gambling addiction ends up being harmful to most players and causing unhealthy outcomes. But at worst, gambling destroys education, careers and relationships, and empty life savings.…

    • 1808 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Journal Entry 8

    • 1425 Words
    • 4 Pages

    I have had a pretty bad experience while gambling and actually went bankrupt because of it. It took me a long time to recover from my debt. It wasn’t really the fault of gambling as opposed to me not properly paying attention to my bank account. However, gambling play a role in me getting carried away while spending my money.…

    • 1425 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Alcoholic's Anonymous

    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages

    I attended two different meetings in my area that addressed alcoholism and compulsive gambling. Initially, it was easy to see the similarities. The overall culture was similar. People introduced themselves as either alcoholics or compulsive gamblers. There was no cross talk. Certain literature was used to guide the meeting and help it flow. It seemed as if Gamblers Anonymous was simply an offshoot of Alcoholics Anonymous or any other 12-step program.…

    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gambling is a mere contest between two or more people in which they bet money on a winner takes all game. The most common case of gambling usually involves casino games such as poker, blackjack, Texas Hold Em, etc. In these instances, the stakes are way higher because the amount of money bet is high. This is what causes the addiction. The chances of winning all the money and becoming rich all for a little money in return as a token to play. It starts off easy; however, the more people play, the more they keep thinking they can win which causes them to bet more and more to where they run out of money and start betting their personal belongings such as houses and cars. Their addiction for power and wealth clouds their judgment and makes them go bankrupt. This could lead to not only severe bankruptcy, but also the destruction of families. In one case, there was a man who bet everything he had and lost. He took the shock so hard that he lost his mind and ended up killing his three children, his wife, and then finally himself. Gambling is very hazardous and can ruin people’s lives, just as any addiction can. It just takes a strong willed person to say no and resist the temptation no matter how hard it…

    • 656 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gambling has benefits and drawbacks to bring for society, however, it should be legalized for several reasons. Many people hold the notion that gambling can have negative impacts on the family since it might ruin people’s life, it is also believed that gambling would probably make everyone unhappy if it were prohibited. Not only that, but also it would increasing the revenue of government due to the high percentage of Canadians who took part in gambling. Additionally, some people believe that alcoholism and depression stem from gambling as negative outcomes; in fact, very few gamblers have these problems. On the contrary, there are a number of factors; such as the increasing of spending in the community. For example, boosting work opportunities…

    • 193 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Person Centred Therapy

    • 3194 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Gambling addiction is sometimes known as the “hidden illness” because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms as there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers typically deny or minimise the problem. They will often go to great lengths to conceal their gambling. Some examples of behaviour are: lying about where they have been, withdrawing from their friends and families and seeking out others who share their addiction. Experts often distinguish gambling for action from gambling to escape. Action gamblers are highly competitive and easily bored, often preferring poker, horse racing and stock market speculation. Escape gamblers are more likely to play passive games of pure chance such a slot machines, bingo, scratch cards and lotteries.…

    • 3194 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Smoking is harmful. At least, that is what many people seem to believe. Over the past, a growing number of states and their local governments have enacted laws that restrict or prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants, and other public places. The government in the U.S. seeks to reduce the adverse health effects of smoking, both to smokers and non-smokers. Policies have focused on discouraging smoking through tobacco taxes, restrictions on tobacco advertising, providing services to assist smokers to quit, and taking various steps to inform the community of the health risks associated with smoking. However, the extension of smoking prohibitions to commercial casinos is a new phenomenon, and additional research make significant discoveries not only with regard to smoking but also with regard to how it impacts public areas that are most affected by smoking. This research results in a greater understanding of this issue, and it also provides the chance to be able to answer questions.…

    • 237 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    “I live for gambling, I work for gambling, travel for gambling, manipulate people for it. I did everything I could just to gamble.” “I thought I’d just play $20 but the minuet I put down a buck I knew I was off and running.” “If I’m winning at some point I think good, I already won some, so I think great it’s my night, I think this is my big night.” “I thought nothing of throwing kitchen chairs around, and slamming doors, when I got the urge to gamble nothing could stop me.” “I lost 5 grand in half an hour I came out of there and blew it off.” These are quotes from gambling addicts. When you are addicted to something you lose control of yourself control.…

    • 1970 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The future development of casinos benefits government, tribes, and the general public. While problem gambling continues to affect millions in America, casino development has little effect on the growth of problem gambling. However, casino development cannot help every tribe. Many tribes live in remote or otherwise uninhabited spaces, making casino development a fruitless endeavor. Gambling can, in some cases help bridge the gap, but in general the Native American population still faces hardships. Gambling, in conjunction with assistance from the government, may bring Native Americans away from…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Gambling addiction can have devastating effect not just on patients, but also their families.” – Dr. Henrietta Bowden-Jones Director of the National Problem Gambling Clinic and Imperial Research team…

    • 1202 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Millions of Americans are affected by addictions. Having an addiction is not just the failure of one’s will or character; it is a disease of the brain. Addictions are a serious problem, but remember not everyone who takes a hit of a drug or a sip of alcohol will become addicts. Addictions are developed because of a mixture of genetics and one’s surrounding environment. Having an addiction is a disease of the brain. It is a disease that can be controlled or even overcome. Many people do not understand the complexity of why some users become addicted while others can control their use. Addicts not only hurt themselves with continued use but they hurt their surrounding friends, family, and anyone they may be accountable to. Many believe quitting an addiction is just a matter of choosing to change their behavior, when in fact it is not. An addiction…

    • 2231 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Informative speech

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Gambling is a very serious impulsive control disorder, it can strain relationships, interfere with work, and leads to financial catastrophe. You may even do things you never thought you would, like stealing money to gamble or pay your debts. You may think you can’t stop but, with the right help, you can overcome a gambling problem or addiction and…

    • 290 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays

Related Topics