The Real Problem with Problem Gambling

Since the coming of electronic Gaming Machines or EGM in the gambling scene, people have raised the alarm of a worsened problem gambling with the emergence and increase of EGMs. The fear was that EGM addiction would give rise to other societal problems in the offing. But how true is this?

Rojan Miller recently did a study on gamblers' response to the availability of EGMs in Sidney, Australia. Though many favored EGMs over other gambling methods, his study showed that the number of gamblers who actually used the machines eventually dwindled from an initially high number. This while the number of EGM units continued to increase. Problem gambling may not be triggered by EGMs after all.

With this finding the common assumption of equating increased problem gambling incidents with increase in EGMs should be re-considered for re-study. Other factors could be possible in the rise and fall of problem gambling. The study further suggests that problem gambling may just be an offshoot of another deeper-seated conflict. Hence, we need to look at gambling in a right perspective.

The real problem with problem gambling is that it has become a scapegoat for many societal ills. Many are of this opinion while a growing number of people are starting to see the whole thing from another viewpoint. Other personal, work, or familial problems may have given rise to the observed increase in problem gambling. Many gamblers use the hobby or vice as a release or relief from the distress of daily pressure coming from other sources.

It appears that counseling institutions responsible for meeting people's frustrations and life stresses like problems at home, in school, the work place and others are not being met. Thus, people create another diversion to pour their energies on and what better avenue to channel such frustration than on gambling? Gambling lets people release their potential with no nagging punishing demerits when met with failure, and lots of rewards when met with success. Thus, the rise of problem gambling, which isn't really the root of the problem.

Gambling, as in the case of EGMs, has an initial appeal to people. But the appeal withers and dies a natural death in most cases, as in the case of other goods and services. The only reason the appeal and urge stays longer is when there are no other worthy avenues to pour frustrations on.

And there we have problem gambling. The real solution to this, therefore, is to pinpoint what really causes problem gambling in the first place.