Forms of Gambling

Lottery/Scratch Tickets
This is probably the most accessible and popular form of gambling.  Lotteries and scratch cards are legal in most states for those over 18 years old.  Proceeds almost always go towards funding state programs.  The popular draw of this form of gambling is that there is little investment and no particular skill required of the participant.  For just a couple of dollars you are buying the chance at millions.  Because of the low risk and easy accessibility, most teenagers who get involved with gambling start with scratch tickets.  Though they seem to be low risk- you can actually end up spending a lot of money on them and even becoming seriously addicted to this form of gambling. 

Betting
There are two common forms of betting: 

1. Formal betting is when you attend an event such as a horse race and place a bet with the officials there.  This type of betting is highly addictive for some people and can also be more risky than other forms of gambling.  Not only are the bets higher, but generally if you are at a racetrack or other venue it is very easy to get caught up in the excitement and fervor of the moment.  It is illegal for anyone under 18 to participate in this type of betting.

2. Personal wagers are what you might think of when you hear the words “I’ll bet you…”  People use this sort of wager to bet on anything- the weather, the actions of certain individuals, the answer to a question, etc.- but they are most commonly placed on sporting events.  Oftentimes, betting will occur in a slightly more organized way among individuals in what are called “betting pools.”  In this case, everyone chips in the same amount in order to predict a certain outcome.  If your outcome is what happens, you can collect the money from all the people.  In most cases, betting is a friendly competition among a few individuals.  Because it is completely unregulated, however (and illegal) it is easy for people of all ages to get caught up in this type of betting and get in trouble. 

Card Games
Though in most states it is illegal to play cards for money unless you have a specific license (such as a casino would hold) many people still enjoy a friendly game of poker with their friends for a small amount of money.  A game such as poker draws many people to it for its social entertainment aspects than rather for the money involved.  It is also a form of gambling in which skill is involved and a player can improve.  Many people start their gambling habit with just a friendly game of cards amongst friends with a small amount of money because it is such an accepted social activity.  

Casinos
Casinos are illegal in most states but where they do exist they are only legal for those over 18.  In casinos, all types of gambling come together.  There are a variety of games to wager money on or activities such as slot machines.  Casinos also usually provide complimentary entertainment, drinks, and a flashy, exciting atmosphere, which is the main reason many people go.  All of those extras draw people to casinos, but once inside it is easy to get caught up in the gambling (which is what casino owners count on).  

Online Gambling
The newest trend in gambling is found online.  Poker games, betting, even online casinos are now all over the Internet.  Because you can play these games in your own home, on your computer and many of them don’t feel that real, more and more people are getting sucked in and losing a lot of money.  Online gambling is especially dangerous because many of the organizations which run the games are from overseas.  This means that they are working outside the jurisdiction of the United States and operate under their own gambling laws- there is no way to tell for sure how honest their practices are so even though it can be very tempting stay away. 

The Risks

Compulsive Gambling
The American Psychiatric Association has acknowledged compulsive gambling as a mental disorder since 1980 meaning that it is a real form of addiction. 

Gambling provides some people with an emotional rush or “high” in the same way that drugs or alcohol provide a chemical “high.”  It is this feeling that compulsive gamblers seek, not necessarily the money.  This is why they continue to go back even when losing huge amounts of money, putting themselves and perhaps their families at risk for bankruptcy.  When it gets out of control, an addiction to gambling can easily cause people to lie, cheat, steal and borrow money in order to keep gambling.  Like any other addiction, it is gambling that controls the person. They may not be able to stop anytime they want to.  Anyone can have the predisposition for being a compulsive gambler. It is not an addiction restricted to certain areas, ages or personality types; in fact many compulsive gamblers started as teenagers.      

“Chasing” a Bet
Individuals can find themselves in serious debt when their gambling behaviors get out of control. When you are winning all of the time, there does not seem to be any harm in putting down money that may be intended for your lunch money, college fund or Christmas shopping; but let’s be honest, nobody wins all of the time - in fact most games are stacked against you. 

The game of probability is dangerous. When a person loses a hand of say, black jack, the inclination is to put more money down in the hopes of winning back what they just lost, to at least break even- this is what is called “chasing a bet.”  People will chase a bet over and over hoping to win back money and in the process sink further into debt.