Gambling should not be banned. It is a choice. It may be a stupid choice but it is still a choice that one should be allowed to make. If I want to spend my college tuition on gambling instead of going to school I should be allowed. If I choose to gamble instead of making my house payment I am the one who is going to suffer the consequences. In conclusion, gambling should be abolished because it leads to addiction, which can cause mental and financial damage. Crimes are often associated with gambling as it is committed by problem gamblers in order to pay off debts, and that they typically reached a severe stage after a few years of playing in casino. Academia.edu is a platform for academics to share research papers.
There is no need to argue, but gambling became very popular today. More and more people start playing online every day. Why does it happen? Is this just an entertainment or an additional source of income? Should casinos be banned? We’ll try to answer all these questions because the opinions about online gambling are entirely different today.
In current times, there is a bunch of online casinos. It means that if you have a desire to try your luck, you can pick up the best online crap joint, and immerse yourself in the gameplay without the necessity to visit this casino personally. For instance, Qatar Online Casino website offers a wide array of online games. It means that gamblers don’t feel the lack of choice. They will always find a fantastic online activity to spend time during a coffee break or pass the time in the evening.
Nevertheless, some users consider that gambling is illegal and it should be banned. Why do they think so? Is it possible to do this?
The Key Reasons Why Online Gambling Should Not Be Banned
Though some people consider all kinds of casinos illegal, that’s not true. Going by that logic, alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes should also be banned. If a person can’t control the situation, this is not the problem of the manufacturer of alcoholic beverages or cigarettes. The same is with the online gambling.
Below, you can find the main reasons why the gambling area should not be banned.
1. This is just pure fun.
Every person has a choice. The same is with the gambler. The principal purpose of this area is to provide a player with the feeling of risk. It also brings entertainment. Thus, it is not honest to blame the gambling industry only because players can’t control themselves. If you are a gambling person who simply can’t stop, you shouldn’t play for real money at all.
2. Gambling doesn’t influence the society.
This is a good method of relaxation for some people. After a hard working day, they come to a brick-and-mortar or online casino and relax. Some experts consider that this is a form of therapy allowing players to switch the attention.
It also helps train some skills. When you play some games, you develop your strategy. You think of how you should behave in one or another situation. Thus, you not only relax but train your brain as well.
Gambling is a choice of a person. It can’t influence the whole society.
3. Casinos attract tourists.
If a casino is located in a tourist place, it will attract players from different countries. For instance, people come to this city in order to have a rest, enjoy the sea, etc. In the evening, they visit casinos, relax, play and win! Otherwise stated, this is a fair opportunity to vary their vacation.
4. People should be at liberty.
The government can’t decide for everyone what activities are legal and which ones should be banned. People have the right to choose how they want to spend their free time. Even if this activity is banned, they will always find the ways to get around the law and continue playing. For that reason, the prohibition on online gambling will not work. Truly gamblers will always see how to access their favorite casinos or find the other ones to experience the gameplay.
5. It boosts the economy of the country.
Legalized gambling can boost the economy of the country. This is an additional source of income allowing the government to cover some expenses. When casinos are illegal, it means the country loses the additional revenue.
Australia’s gambling losses are the second in the world (Ridley n.d.). The Age (2008) reported that total expenditure of gambling in Victoria reached $4.8 billion in 2007, among the spending; the biggest means of raising the money is poker machines, which lose $2, 6 billion. Australia is estimated to have 400,000 moderate to serious problem gamblers (Haw 2010). It is accounted for 2.8 per cent of the adult population in Australia. The issues of gambling are very important because the problems are not only losing money but it affects person’s whole life and makes social impacts. Furthermore, Australian government productivity commission points out problem gamblers have a harmful influence from five to ten other people, which means that between 1.5 million and 3.3 million Australians are involved in gambling problems (Hudson 2001), but even if troubles related to gambling are rampant in the society, some commentators are arguing that gambling brings economical profit for the public. However, this essay will argue that poker machines should be prohibited because it would reduce financial, psychological and social problems related to gambling, and most importantly it would not be a problem for gamblers.Firstly, gamblers incur loss upon loss. Gambling losses cause business bankruptcies. According to Australian Gambling Council (2010, p.44) 43 business bankruptcies were caused by gambling or speculation that it is accounted for 1.08% of the total. A financial counselor in Adelaide mentions that three companies went bankrupt in losses over $ 1 million by one of his clients with gambling addiction (Australian Productivity Commission 1999, p.7.52). Thus, contrast to small prevalence rates of business insolvencies by gambling, the amount of losses and increasing in unemployment make an enormous impact on the economy. In addition, gamblers run up a debt to invest the money in gamble. Around $12,200 was estimated as annual disbursements of problem gamblers in the last 12 months, the amount of money was nineteen times higher than $645 for non-problem gamblers(Australian Productivity Commission 1999, p.7.40) Perpetual gambling losses for a large number of gamblers who are borrowing money cause a heavy debts and insolvency (Brown 2009). Ladouceur et al. (cited in Brown 2009, p.17) describe that “indebtedness is often as high as $50,000 or more.” As a result, Healthy Wealth and Wise Woman (cited in Brown 2009) claimed that financial problems related gambling bring about forfeit house properties. Australian Broadcasting Commission (cited in Brown 2009, p.17) reports that homeless who lost their accommodations by gambling related problems were 20 % in a whole.
Secondly, Gambling often makes psychological disorder. One of the problems is gambling addiction. According to Hudson (2001), the most remarkable country of gambling addiction is Australia. Especially, the most likely thing that causes addiction is poker machines (Ridley n.d.) Roughly ten thousands South Australians are estimated as suffering from serious addictions (Ridley n.d.) Centre for addiction and mental health (n.d.) reports that a lot of people who gamble heavily feel uneasiness, depressed and stressed, which make a sleep disorder, inattentive and solving troubles more complicated. As the result, compulsive gamblers often don’t have interests in any other things and don’t live a normal life as a member of society. What is worse, people who have psychological problems are likely to commit suicide, that is to say for the reason mentioned above, suicide rates among excessive gamblers who prone to mental diseases is high. According to national health survey, the rates of people who have planned suicide attempt were 27.06% among problem gamblers and 6.07% of moderate risk gamblers in 2008 (Australian Gambling Council 2010). Hagan (2010) reports that about 20% of suicidal patients who were taken to The Alfred Hospital’s emergency department were problem gamblers. As a result, gambling leads to increased suicide rates.
Finally, financial problems related gambling damage reputation. Money crisis makes the relationship feel scared, distrust and treachery. For instance, Better Health Channel (2006) points out that gambling loss are managed to rise from household funds in most cases and the others with gambling problems fall back upon from other sources. However, around 52 per cent of problem gamblers do not return the money borrowed (Hudson 2001). As a result, a gulf has formed between both sides and their human relationship collapses. National Gambling Impact Study (2010) reports that divorce rates of problem and pathological gamblers are over twice higher than non-gamblers. Moreover, desire for gambling and fretting about payment of debt drive into breaking the law. According to a study by Jackson et al (1997) which is researched criminal acts among 1,452 new clients with pathological problem who were registered at problem gambling counseling agencies in Victoria between 1 July 1996 and 30 June 1997, found that their gambling finances caused illegal activity for approximately 30 per cent of them. Particularly, poker machines have the highest risk that make gamblers take a turn to fraud, that it is accounted for 56.4% (Warfield 2008). As a result, it is possible that gambling disturb peace and order in society.
Should Gambling Be Illegal
It might seem that gambling will bring economic benefit. Amies and Doughney (cited in Graffam 2005, p.5) explains that one of the advantages of gambling is a source of revenue for governments. Around $1.6 billion of gambling profits become Victoria state revenue in taxes and levies (The Age 2008). The Weekend Australian Inquirer (2006) claims that poker machines are the best improvement way for states financial difficulties. However, what government depend on revenue from gambling is unethical. The Queensland government which addict to poker machines revenue has caused an increase gambling problems (The Age 2007). As a result, problem gamblers discourage about work, some problem gamblers lose their jobs and the unemployed workers increase in the society. Furthermore, gambling damages the economy. KPMG (cited in Brown 2000, p.25) shows expenditure tendency found that loss due to gambling convert from living expenses, such as household goods, food expenses and clothes. As a result, that a diversion of spending cases damage to economic growth in the retailing is found by economic studies (Doughney & Keller cited in Brown 2000, p.25).Online Gambling Banned
