Psychology Of Gambling Journal

Gambling has been around for thousands of years, and at one point in time we do ask ourselves these questions “why do people gamble” When a lot of people constantly lose their money?” , “What motivates us to gamble more and more?’ We all want to know what is the underlying Psychology of Gambling? The growth of Gambling Industry, as well as more and more Online Casinos, denotes that it has always been successful. It is not possible if it has nothing to offer to its users. There is much more than the thrill to win big. Many factors can contribute to a gambling addiction, including desperation for money, the element of chance, the societal stand and much more which a lot of people don’t know. Unfortunately, once a gambling problem takes hold, breaking the cycle is difficult.

Why don’t you see it for yourself? I bet at least one of the gambling reasons listed below would surprise you:

• Journal of Gambling Studies. 2008; 24: 229-246. Grant JE, Kim SW. Demographic and clinical features of 131 adult pathological gamblers. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2001; 62: 957-962. Gambling and the older Chinese in Canada. Journal of Gambling Studies. 2006; 22: 121−141.
• The social part of gaming is also very important. Especially in multiplayer and online games, if one has achieved a lot, gained recognition, or has made many connections with players, those play a significant roles in if one will continue to play a game7.

He is an editorial board member of International Gambling Studies, Journal of Gambling Issues, International Journal of Casino and Business, International Journal of Cyber Behavior, Psychology and Learning, and Aloma: Revista de Psicologia, and has advised governmental bodies in the UK, Australia, Canada, Israel, Finland, Sweden and Norway. Morris, Gambling-Related Beliefs and Gambling Behaviour: Explaining Gambling Problems with the Theory of Planned Behaviour, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 10.1007/s11469-015-9611-9, 15, 1, (130-142), (2015). One of the most influential contributions to a cognitive psychology of gambling has been the work of Ellen Langer on the illusion of control. The illusion of control is defined as an expectancy of personal success inappropriately higher than the objective probability would warrant.

1. Taking Risks is likely to be Exciting

There are a lot of people on the planet who might deny being a risk taker, however, I think where it counts within every one of us there’s something that connects with the excite of taking a risk. It gets your heart rate beating, your mind dashing and your brain firing on all barrels. The uncertainty and the waiting give you so much anxiousness and an enormous load of feeling that is most likely to overwhelm you. While you wait as the ball spins, you get a natural high because it is fun and entertaining. This is the same principle amusement park works on- you feel involved, you are scared, you are anxious and at the same time excited. The rush just gets to you- no matter how little. It’s these little things in life.

“Even when you’re losing while you’re gambling, your body is still producing adrenalin and endorphins”

-Mark Griffiths, Nottingham University

2. You get a chance to escape

We are not saying that you should gamble to escape from your problems, but when you gamble you are feeling so many things in your brain and heart that you feel that everything is going great. You concentrate on the game and you get a break from your everyday life. We do sometimes like to turn our brain off because it gives us time to escape responsibility and recharge our batteries before diving back into real life and that’s why there are so many emotions. Most gambling players whether it’s real money online or in the casino hall are just in it for the fun. They don’t want big jackpots and rewards or win the craziest hand to call it a lovely night. The different atmosphere, classic games, and the perfect music are all that’s needed.

3. Society and all the Glamour

The problem of compulsive gambling prevailing in the society from early days and the media has portrayed gambling by using visual cues that only depict style and glamorous. Casinos are shown to be extremely classy, where high- society folks come up very perfectly dressed, wearing the most expensive brands. The stylish and the fashionable aspect of the gambling is felt by the players when they actually gamble as they find themselves in the same scene doing similar things. Also, the people around the casino would make you feel very posh, and that is one major reason people keep going back to Land-based Casino. It is a reason why no one would miss going to a casino on their trip to Las Vegas. It is an experience in itself and people do pay for the experience.

4. Interacting with Different People

Most people are introduced to Gambling by playing cards with their friends and family, and its a game where a lot of laughs and feelings are shared. It is a social event, always. In a casino, you get to interact with so many people over a drink or not, that you can find the vibe very appealing. People come from different backgrounds to take just a break, and everyone just seems to fit it. When everyone is in a very participative mood, the best conversations tend to happen and you don’t even need to find a topic.

5. The Thrill of the Win Big

It is extremely thrilling thinking that there is even the slightest chance to hit a jackpot and win crazy amount of money. Who wouldn’t like to spend small pennies in hope for the biggest returns? According to surveys, it is shown that people still love betting on the house despite knowing the odds were against them. One reason revealed by them that they gambled to win and win big. And there’s a reason behind why it feels so good. When gamers continue to lose, their brain starts to prime themselves for the win! Although this is very unhealthy gambling habits, it is one of the reasons why people continue to place their money sometimes even without setting a budget.

People tend not to care only about the money when they are playing at a casino. It’s more about how entertaining it is and how it is an experience in itself like a day at the amusement park. It’s not a source of income and they enjoy playing at a casino because of the rush, unpredictability and the escape. The amount they end up winning is just an added bonus which keeps the game more engaging and entertaining. So in a casino, it is more likely that even when you lose, you feel high.

At Dharamraz, we consider Online Casino Games to be an entertainment activity. If you think your gambling has become a problem, please go through our gambling help, as it is very important if gambling disrupts your day to day activity.

Is there any other reason you think your brain loves to gamble? Let us know in the comments below.

The internet may attract those who try to hide gambling behaviors

Read the journal article

Psychology Of Gambling Journal Articles

WASHINGTON - People who use the internet to gamble may have more serious gambling problems than those who use slot machines or play the lottery, according to a new study that is among the first to evaluate the prevalence of internet gambling. The study warns that the explosive growth of the internet will likely lead to more on-line gambling opportunities and the health and emotional difficulties that come with gambling disorders, including substance abuse, circulatory disease, depression and risky sexual behaviors. The findings are reported on in the March issue of Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, a journal of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Psychologists George T. Ladd, Ph.D., and Nancy M. Petry, Ph.D., of the University of Connecticut Health Center surveyed the gambling behaviors of 389 people seeking free or reduced-cost dental or health care at the university's health clinics. Results show that nearly 11 percent were found to be problem gamblers and over 15 percent met the criteria for pathological gamblers. The most common forms of gambling reported by the participants were lottery (89%), slot machines (82%) and scratch tickets (79%). Next came card-playing forms of gambling (71%), sports betting (57%), bingo (56%) and animal betting (53%). Internet gambling was reported by just over eight percent or 31 of the participants and 14 of those people reported gambling on the internet at least weekly.

Psychology Of Gambling Journal Article

Although internet gambling was the least common gambling activity of the study's participants, the study found that a majority of those with internet gambling experience had the most serious levels of gambling behaviors, known as Level 2 (problematic) and Level 3 (pathological) gambling. Only 22 percent of the participants without any internet gambling experience were Level 2 or 3 gamblers, compared with 74 percent of participants with internet gambling experience who were classified as Level 2 or 3 gamblers.

Internet gamblers were also more likely to be unmarried and younger than those who never used the internet for gambling. They also tended to have lower education and income levels than non-Internet gamblers, which is surprising, according to the researchers, since access to the internet is traditionally associated with people that have higher income and education levels. No significant gender differences were found between internet and non-internet gamblers.

'The availability of internet gambling may draw individuals who seek out isolated and anonymous contexts for their gambling behaviors,' say the authors. 'Accessibility and use of internet gambling opportunities are likely to increase with the explosive growth of the internet.'

More research in this area is needed, say the authors, to determine whether an increase in internet use may lead to the development of more serious forms of gambling, or whether the internet attracts individuals who already have a gambling problem. However, 'the study shows that screening for gambling problems in their patients may enhance the ability of health professionals to intervene and prevent physical and emotional health problems.'

Psychology Of Gambling Journals

Article: 'Disordered Gambling Among University-Based Medical and Dental Patients: A Focus on Internet Gambling,' George T. Ladd and Nancy M. Petry, University of Connecticut Health Center; Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Vol. 16, No. 1.

Co-author Nancy M. Petrycan be reached at (860) 679-2593.

The University of Connecticut Health Center offers free and confidential treatment to individuals with gambling problems as part of the first NIMH-sponsored study investigating treatments for pathological gambling. For more information, call toll free 1-877-400-0570.

The American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC, is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes more than 155,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. Through its divisions in 53 subfields of psychology and affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a profession and as a means of promoting human welfare.