Pathological Gambling : The National Council On Problem Gambling Essay

Gambling and the unpredictability of the roulette wheel stand at the center of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Gambler. Despite the fact that it is not a very rational activity, gambling captures the enthusiasms of many in The Gambler, enthralling those characters that are intoxicated by the feelings of victory. Experienced gamblers often work out strategies to ensure success, or at least a greater chance of success. Unfortunately, these types of patterns and strategies simply do not apply in games of chance like roulette. As Jeff Love describes, there is not a “fixed constant or indubitable ground permitting a deductive determination of the results of each turn of the wheel” in the game of roulette (Love 373). Put more simply, roulette is a game of

For years, Bachmann keeps coming to the casino until she got hooked and became a compulsive gambler. She gambled every money she has up to the point of losing everything. During those time, Bachmann had no idea that someday she would become one of the most important examples of whether people should bear responsibility for their habits. Bachmann’s problem with gambling slowly loses control over how much time and money she spent gambling. Although she thinks she is in control and she was aware of the bad effect it may cause, Bachmann continued gambling without seeking help. Other times she tried to cut down or stop but, many times she failed. She keeps hoping a big win will end her problems. She feared that her loved ones will find them out that drives her deeper into hiding and further into debt. She felt anxious and upset whenever she tried to change. I would also like to point out that Harrah’s Casino is partly to blame here. Their participation in Bachmann’s addiction is something to consider and look upon. They shower her with gifts such as: “free coupons, free buffets… free trip to Lake Tahoe with a suite, and tickets to Eagles concert” (Duhigg, pp. 247, 261) in which according to Bachmann is hard to resist. According to Bachmann’s lawyer, “she should not be held culpable because she had been reacting automatically to temptations that Harrah’s Casino put in front of her. Once the offers started rolling in,

Moreover, there are other organizations and resources that can help gamblers undergo rehabilitations and treatments such as Gamblers Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous, National Council on Problem Gambling, or psychotherapy, or cognitive behavioral therapy. (Healthline.com/health/addiction/gambling) Treatment centers are available for these types of addiction and recommended for anyone who has a problem controlling their urges to gamble. Although Bachmann tried to overcome the demon that has been luring her to gambling, she did not try harder to defeat it. Harrah’s casino is also partly to blame for Angie Bachmann’s debts since they encouraged Angie Bachmann into gambling. Harrah’s knew that Bachmann had filed for bankruptcy, yet they still invited her to play. After her parents’ death, Bachmann became sad and vulnerable and the casino’s staff used that reason to lure her more into gambling. The casino preyed on Bachmann’s vulnerabilities: her depression over her parents’ deaths, her guilt for accepting the casino’s “gifts,” and her gambling addiction that she could not control. On the other hand, individuals and families in the society are considered victims in this

In the book “The Power Habit,” the author is talking about a woman named Angie Bachmann who was a housewife and who used to clean her home when her husband and kids would be gone during the day until one day she decided that she will change her life totally. Bachmann once sitting at home started to think that she should find something to enjoy her day just like her husband and kids. She wanted to have a story to tell her family at night. Bachmann instead of thinking about doing something good and productive, she chose a wrong path that ruined her life totally. Bachmann chose casino over all the other work because she thought that casino might make her feel good. Angie Bachmann is responsible for her gambling debts because she chose to make her own decision and not stop gambling, even though she knew she is putting herself in trouble.

“Gambling addiction, particularly is easy to start; it requires no elaborate or illegal activities, no troublesome ingestion of substances, and it programs the body using its own chemicals” (Brodak 302). Molly Brodak the daughter of Joseph and the author of “Bandit” speaks up about growing up with a father who is addicted to gambling. Molly, her sister, and mother struggle to overcome the challenges that come along with having a man in their life who loses everything for them. Not only does this gambling addiction that Joseph suffers from harm his life financially but also emotionally.

Angie Bachmann mother of 3 children, got addicted to gambling felt lonely at home, when her husband went to work and children went to school. Bachmann had gotten married young and had become pregnant almost right away. She had never held down a meaningful job. One morning, "She was sitting at home, staring at the television, so bored that she was giving serious thought to reorganizing the silverware drawer" (Duhigg). That morning the trouble began. She was really bored, so at about noon, Bachmann drove to a riverboat casino. She played and lost 40 dollars. After that first trip to the casino, Bachmann started going to the riverboat once a week. Then twice a week. Over the next decade, Bachmann played regularly. She went whenever she fought with her husband or was just bored. At the tables she was numb and excited, all at once. The high of winning was so immediate. The pain of losing passed so fast. According to Duhigg states" First, there is a cue, a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode. Then there is the routine - the behavior itself - which can be physical or mental or emotional. Finally, there is a reward, which helps

There is no specific treatment option that is more beneficial. However, there are a variety of treatment options available for gambling addiction such as Gambler’s Anonymous, which is a support group and psychotherapy that involves cognitive behavioral therapy. Family therapy or group meetings with professional counselors can assist family members. In addition, there is the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network and Gamblers Anonymous that help love ones with their gambling problems (www.casino.org). The medication that is used to treat compulsive gambling is antidepressants and mood stabilizers (www.mayoclinic).

Charles Duhigg in his book The Power of Habit talks about a woman named Angie Bachmann who is addicted to gambling. Bachmann of Iowa was a stay-at-home mom who found herself bored every day. She had nothing to satisfy her boredom because her husband was busy at work and the kids were at school. To treat herself one afternoon she decided to dress up and drive to a local casino. She gave herself strict rules. Duhigg states, “No more than one hour at the blackjack table per trip, and [Bachmann]only gambled what was in her wallet’’ (247). Bachmann did not want to spend that much money in the beginning of the

In The Power of Habit, author Charles Duhigg puts an emphasis on habits-their inner workings and how they can be changed. Duhigg describes how habits work through the cycle of cue (trigger that activates a habit), routine (action of habit), and reward (aspect in which the brain determines if the habit is worth it). Particularly in Chapter 9 of the book, Duhigg details the descent of a woman called Angie Bachmann from being a bored housewife to losing all her money through compulsive gambling. Harrah’s Entertainment, the casino where Bachmann played Blackjack and lost every bit of her money, sued Bachmann, “demanding that she pay her debts” (269 Duhigg). Every time Bachmann steps in a casino activates a cue within her brain, which she automatically performs her routine of playing Blackjack thinking that she might win as a reward. Chapter 9 further discusses the extent of Bachmann’s responsibility of her actions since she was fully aware of her actions and she had the responsibility to change which she did not. Although Bachmann argued that she was acting per Harrah’s manipulations, she is still responsible because Harrah’s actions were legal, she did not get treatmeAdvance

The harm principle states that the actions of individuals should only be limited to prevent harm to other individuals. The harm principle applies to Sarah Jones due to her negligence of her (3) minor children. Sarah had been a gambler for over three years, and that time she’s a slightly stressful situation into a major problem addiction. She began betting on bingo but soon that wasn’t a satisfying high any longer. So, Sarah started going to the casino’s. Gambling is an addiction for some, and for her, it was just that. For her to lose $85,000, and have to take out a second mortgage on her house; or to never be at home during the afternoon or evenings that's a serious problem. The fact that she is gone so often that her children aren't getting

“The state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene conducted a study before the first Maryland casino opened in 2010, and published it in 2011. They found that nearly 90 percent of Marylanders had gambled, and that 3.4 percent were either pathological gamblers or problem gamblers.” (Massimo) There has been numerous stories of addicted gamblers in debt, gamblers that have lost family and friends from their addictions. There was a man $400,000 in debt, his wife threw him out of the house and told him he could not see his kids again unless he gave up gambling. Also, another gambler went on a 48 hour binge without sleeping and barely eating. A woman faced a jail term for stealing $135,000 to feed her gambling

“We have all learned that addiction and mental illnesses are illnesses, and I think a lot of people overlook that it is a chemical imbalance; it’s like cancer, a sickness and people need to see that.” (Poppy Delevingne). Gambling an addiction that people harm controls. Addiction is a personal feeling of discomfort which becomes to act out no a signal to connect with others; Addiction is a relationship problem. Addiction affects people and serves their lives like Angie Bachmann and Rebecca. Angie was a mother of three daughters. Her youngest daughter started kindergarten, and the other was in middle school. Angie shouldn’t overcome her addiction to gambling. Angie was unsuccessful in finding a way to stop her gambling addiction while Rebecca found her way to recover. Rebecca felt her mistake in gambling does; she decided to change her life for the better Rebeca asked the pastor to let her work in the church in her spare time instead of gambling. It managed to change her life and the left gambling and became a member of the association.

Bachmann’s gambling addiction follows a simple cycle known as the habit loop. A habit loop, which explained earlier, is a cycle consisting of a cue, routine, and reward affect. Identifying the habit loop for addicts is a great way of finding ways in altering the addiction to completely get rid of it or to minimize the activity. The initial cue of the addiction was when she felt unappreciated by her kids or had a verbal disagreement with her husband. The routine was playing blackjack at the casinos, while generating conversations with random strangers. Finally the reward hopefully was winning the game or receiving money once cashing in the chips and having a sense of being good at something. Knowing Bachmann’s habit loop, we can infer that her problem can be adjusted in a way to minimize the amounts of money that are poured into the game and spending less time in a casino.

     Gambling addiction is an issue found in numerous areas where gambling is legal. People who are addicted to gambling, also know as problem gamblers, face many health risks including depression, suicidal thoughts, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, migraine and anxiety in addition to marriage breakdown, problems at work and bankruptcy (9). About 2 percent of adults are thought to be problem gamblers (1). In today’s society this costly addiction is not often considered to be a common problem among those who gamble. Only a small amount of states in the U.S. give enough attention toward this rising problem of people that are sometimes even willing to commit crimes just to aid their addiction. In the past our

There are several concerns regarding the ethics of gambling whether in an online setting or in a public setting. Gambling has many benefits for both gamblers and casinos, but it’s crucial to acknowledge the psychological repercussions of gambling as it isn’t always just “harmless fun.” We can consider the negative and positive implications of gambling on non-gamblers as well. However, how would ethical theories and perspectives differ in their approach to the effects of gambling? When people think of gambling, they usually see flashing Vegas casinos and large sums of cash. The gambling arena is much larger just as the significance of the effects gambling has on the casinos and people involved. Gambling addiction is a very prevalent factor