The Gambling Compulsion
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This article was kindly written for the SDC by member @Doctor Alan.
Most of us like to gamble. I don’t think that’s very surprising. As long as ‘money’ has been a predominant driving force, we all believe we need more.
I’ve bet on the Melbourne Cup a few times, played Bingo many times, and only spent $3 at the Casinos in Las Vegas in two visits there! I even won $50 on a ‘scratchy’ once, but any win was rare – or at least, any substantial win. I think our biggest win in the lottery was about $16.00 once.
Of course, having sensible parents helped. There was no way I was going to spend my hard-earned pocket money on cigarettes, ‘purple hearts’ or booze, and that appreciation for making the most of what we have has helped me throughout my life.
It’s not just money we gamble with, though. Insurance is like a gamble. We feel we must have insurance ‘just in case’ the house burns down, the car gets pinched, or we lose our luggage on holiday.
Most people would rather not gamble on these things not happening, yet the same people may be quite prepared to lose their whole wage packet pulling a handle or pressing a button on a machine designed for its operator to lose in the long run. Insurance companies would definitely NOT insure you for loss on the pokies, because they know it’s almost inevitable.
The trouble is that one word: ‘almost’, which gives the gambler hope of becoming one of the rich and vacuous!
History of gambling:
According to Wikipedia, gambling, or ‘gaming’ (to which it is often referred in the modern context regarding online activities) dates back to about 3000 BCE, as evidenced by the discovery of six-sided dice.
Contests between animals were quite common (cockfighting, etc.), and the Chinese used early versions of lotto and dominoes before the 10th century. Playing cards appeared a little later, in the 9th century CE.
I used to play a game on the computer that was originally called ‘Wari’ – a bit like ‘Backgammon’. The earliest evidence of Mancala boards, of which Wari is a type, dates to the 2nd to 3rd centuries CE in the Roman city of Gedera, Israel. Despite its simplicity, it’s actually pretty addictive! All that’s needed is a number of small stones to be used by each player, and holes dug in the ground around a rectangular ‘board’. (If you’re interested, this website explains the game: https://nrich.maths.org/games/wari)
Poker, the most popular gambling game in the United States, did not appear until around the 17th century.
How much money is spent on gambling today?
The figures are quite concerning. Globally, around $149.6 billion was spent on gambling in the US, with a projected increase of around 12% per year. In Australia alone, more than $30 billion was lost to gambling in 2024. The losses per person amount to a staggering $1200 annually (2023).
(It is interesting to note that more than one in 11 people worldwide are starving, or have no clean, fresh water to drink! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if some of the billions spent on gambling or the ‘significant’ attempts to colonise the Moon and Mars were diverted to these unfortunate people? But I digress…)
Is gambling good for you?
There are two answers to this: ‘Yes’ and ‘No’! My research reveals that, according to a study, individuals' happiness levels rose while they were engaged in gambling activities. When compared with those who used television as a source of entertainment, the individuals who gambled were happier. Gambling as a hobby will surely improve your life and happiness.
On the other hand, gambling can cause low self-esteem, stress, anxiety and depression if gambling becomes a problem. Gambling can become an addiction, just like drugs or alcohol, and very often leads to mental health issues and the destruction of relationships.
Social gambling:
As we get older, we tend to become more and more isolated. ‘The kids’ have their lives to live, and we make new connections. Most of us succumb to an invitation to join friends at Bingo, and it can be dead boring or quite good fun, depending upon the caller's personality and whether we can fit in any social interaction.
Of course, some people get really ‘intense’ and tend to ignore the ‘fun’ part of it. The prizes are generally relatively small. In fact, it appears that the size of the prize is inversely proportional to the fun we get out of the game!
The Melbourne Cup usually entices the closet gambler out of his burrow, and the work-based sweep is definitely more social than lucrative. I really don’t think you could call ‘playing the pokies’ a social activity. Pulling a handle for hours on end seems rather soul-destroying.
Whatever type of gambling you indulge in, I firmly believe that it’s only ‘fun’ if you don’t mind losing, and as long as you’ve set your limit beforehand. The very best of luck!
The bigger the odds, the bigger the prize!
I don’t regard myself as a gambler, since I’ve always erred on the side of ‘security and safety’ regarding life’s choices. I’ve made attempts at becoming ‘rich and famous’, but unfortunately, fate has not favoured me in this regard. I think ‘almost’ is as far as I’ve got!
Like most people, though, my wife and I like to play the odd game of Bingo. Depending upon the caller’s personality, among other things, it can be dead boring or quite good sociable fun. The risks are low, and the prizes will not likely help us move house!
If we find ourselves at the local Club, we might spend $1 each on the 1c ‘pokies’ – certainly not much more. The Melbourne Cup is the only horse race I’ve been known to bet on, always through a work-based sweep. My secretary once won over $7000 on a $2 ‘Mystery Trifecta’, and I was so pleased for her, it was as if I’d won! (I gave her the rest of the afternoon off!)
Bingo night: sometimes it’s less about winning, more about the laughs. Image source: Joshua Hoehne/Unsplash.
Lottery tickets for a car or a huge home + ‘gold bullion’ are only undertaken as a bit of fun. ‘Well, you never know…’, but with these, the chance of winning is really very small. We usually say things like: ‘Well, it’s the money we don’t spend on cigarettes and alcohol,’ so we feel we can justify a few dollars in this regard.
Of course, one could say that if we can afford to spend any money on gambling, why don’t we simply donate it to a good cause? Perhaps we’re all hypocrites, and therefore don’t deserve to win.
My view is that if we gamble in moderation, we retain the fun of it and, therefore, enhance our own happiness. However, perhaps it’s like ‘love’, and we really shouldn’t try to analyse it too deeply; otherwise, we become quite boring!
Good luck!
From the Editor:
Gambling is one of those curious parts of life that touches nearly everyone at some stage. Whether it’s a flutter on the Melbourne Cup, a friendly game of Bingo, or the occasional scratchy, most of us have taken a chance in one way or another.
In this week’s reflection, Dr. Al shares his candid and light-hearted observations on the role of gambling in our lives – from its deep roots in history to the way it can bring us both joy and heartache. With humour, honesty, and a dash of wisdom, he reminds us that the real 'win' often lies in moderation, connection, and the stories we share along the way.
Do you have a memorable gambling story – perhaps a lucky win, or a time when you learned the value of limits? We’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below!
Love Alan’s writing and want to read more? You might also like to read:
Father’s Days
Being Old!
It’s About Time
The Twang’s the Thang!
Being Lucky
Are We All Liars?
The Coo of the Doves, The Hiss of the Guzunder
‘Till Death Us Do Part
Living in Retirement
Alan G.’s Member Spotlight: ‘Almost Famous’
The Ice Cream Job: The Tech Guy – Dr Al
The Lucky Man: The Tech Guy – Dr Al
‘Ten Pound Pom’ Hostel Living: The Tech Guy – Dr Al
Becoming a Better Driver by Accident!
Tech Talk with Dr Al: Accessibility Aids for the Home
Flying Round the World: The Tech Guy – Dr Al
Many Happy Returns of the Day!
Reaching for the Stars!
My great-grandfather’s journal of 1908: The Tech Guy – Dr Al
Pocket Money
University Days
Nasty Words and Silly Gestures
Up-Sticks and Move Interstate!
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