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Problem Gambling – A Real Hurdle
in the Path of Legal Online
Gambling
Obsessive-compulsive gambling is
something the majority of online
gamblers will just shrug off, but
it is indeed a real and serious
problem, one that is among the
hurdles that need to be overcome
before online gambling can be
legalized. Those who have
experienced problem gambling will
tell you that the problem is an
intricate one, and it is extremely
difficult to define and treat.
Indeed, just like drinking,
compulsive gambling is difficult to
even recognize, and while the first
step in the healing process is
indeed the admission of the
problem, in the case of problem
gambling, there is no clear
boundary over which problem
gambling resides.
There are problem gambling self
tests available out there, and one
can use those to determine whether
or not he/she should consider the
possibility that he/she is a victim
of compulsive gambling. With all
its intricacies and menacingly deep
secrets, problem gambling
represents a great opportunity for
researchers to study compulsive
behavior. The reason is a simple
one: alcohol or drug induced
obsessive-compulsive behavior is
chemically influenced, therefore
researchers can never be sure how
much of it is indeed chemical
induced and how much is due to the
mental processes of the victims.
Compulsive gambling is pure
compulsive behavior. There are no
chemical triggers involved,
everything happens inside the
victim’s head.
Medical research has been
undertaken – some of it sponsored
by online gambling and poker
operations – and conclusions showed
that compulsive gambling is indeed
a perfect example of a
neurobiological addiction. Test
subjects had their brains analyzed
with MRI machines, which offered an
insight into their neurobiological
functions while gambling.
Researchers knew how the intake of
alcohol and various drugs
stimulated an area of the brain
responsible for the production of
dopamine, a hormone tied to
pleasure-induction and they were
curious whether gambling would
result in a similar release of
dopamine. Indeed, MRI scans showed
the same areas of the brain were
stimulated in gamblers and the
mechanism of dopamine release was
similar to the pattern observed in
chemical addiction.
Interestingly, gamblers’ brains
released dopamine not only when
they were winning, but also during
the suspense preceding the stopping
of the Wheel of Fortune. Another
study proved the link between
dopamine and compulsive behavior
when patients given
dopamine-stimulating medication
developed compulsive-obsessive
disorders which included problem
gambling. All patients reverted to
normal once the said medication was
discontinued.
Problem gambling may also be
brought about by the simple
availability of casino games – and
this is one of the major problems
of the online gambling industry,
since availability is touted as one
of the biggest advantages of online
casinos.
How can problem gambling be
combated then? Medication is one
option but a simple 12 step program
may prove to be much more
efficient. It would also help if
online casinos could identify
problem gamblers and restrict
access for them, taking away the
all-important factor of
availability.
For online poker players,
signing up for a rakeback deal
is a must.
Prop rakeback is much more
generous than the regular kind.
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