You might think that your occasional bet here and there is just fine. Or even buying your local lottery ticket when doing some shopping. And you might be right or completely wrong. There are a lot of nuances, and in unhealthy addictions, the devil is in the details. In this post, we are going to help you understand whether YOUR actions match your desires.
The Difference Between Gambling And Investing
Gambling(aka betting) in most cases involves putting money at stake, or something else of substantial value. Money is at stake because you will risk it in return for an even greater reward, or a prize. Now look, I know it sounds a bit like investing, but this one is completely different. Both investing, for example in the stock market, and gambling, such as in a casino, involve risk and hope for a potential gain in the future. The difference is, your chances of getting profit from gambling are way smaller than that of investing, especially over the long term. Gambling is mostly a short-term activity, and it definitely has an endpoint. Once the gambling activity is over, all is said and done. You either win, which is just mathematically unlikely, or you lose. The End. With investing, you play the long game. The market may swing either way in a month, a year, or even a day, but over the long term, it continually goes up.
Knowing When To Stop
We are not here to judge you or tell you what to do. But if you actually want to earn some money, then you should know that you have way better odds with investing. Money aside, the desire to gamble alone does not make you an addict. But if you are unable to stop when necessary, experience returning and compulsive feelings about gambling, or actually harming your real life by gambling more than you can afford, you have a compulsive gambling disorder. That means that gambling is creating real negative consequences for your life, and for some reason, you are unwilling or unable to stop it. It’s a real issue and one that you could get rid of, especially with external help.
You should be the judge whether gambling benefits or is a detriment to your life, but some are unable to see it with their own eyes. Thus, consulting somebody you can trust can help you understand if there is an issue. Different religions have various outlooks on gambling. In Islam, Maisir(gambling) is strictly forbidden. The Quran acknowledges that it may have positive and negative connotations, but states that the sin far outweighs any positive outcomes. Christianity views betting as a neutral action, with no virtue or moral impediment. It does condemn fraud, as that would be considered a lie. Both religions oppose gambling on the ground that it often leads to addiction, engaging with prostitution, and other criminal activities. To explore the subject more, check out this post.
Do I Have A Problem?
Do you feel like you are always thinking about betting more money, or of ways to return the money you have lost? If yes, then you may have a problem. Obsessing over anything leads to exceeding thoughts that may overtake your life. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, relationship strains, or going against your moral views, then gambling is clearly taking too much space in your life. On the other hand, if you are able to make an occasional bet, that you enjoy the thrill of, but it’s not taking a toll on your life in any way, then it may be a fine way to helo you enjoy your free time. But you have to be honest with yourself, and if you can’t, you have to take a step back.
Some countries prohibit gambling completely, others try to regulate it. In any case, we suggest you do not take part in any illegal activities but it’s a simple fact that gambling addiction exists in all countries, even where gambling for money is considered illegal. With the rapid increase of gambling-addicted problems in the Arabic region and the difficulty to find local information due to strict anti-gambling regulations, we find it important to mention that information in Arabic is available on this website.
It has been proven in research studies, that gambling exhibits similar effects on the brain’s reward system as doing drugs or alcohol. Because of this, many behaviors that are usual to drug or alcohol addiction are similar to gambling. If you feel an urge to hide your actions, attempt to steal, or fraud other people in order to keep gambling, then you must understand that this medical condition is best treated by professionals. You may get better on your own, but without supervised help remissions usually don’t last long. On a final note, gambling may have life-destroying consequences if it gets out of control. Be on the lookout and stay aware of your actions, so they never cross a line you don’t want to.