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Gambling started off as a shady business—it had connections to underground crime and was largely unregulated for a long time. These factors nurtured a stigma against it until legal and social developments occurred. Nevada and New Jersey started to legalize gambling, casinos started to pop up in various states, and then it became even more accessible thanks to the internet. Movies, TV shows, and celebrity gamblers began glamorizing casino culture, and it often became associated with extravagant lifestyles and charismatic personalities.
People saw casinos as an opportunity to win big and change their entire lives. The fact that you’ll instantly receive spins just for signing up for a platform today enhances that accessibility. But have things become too accessible? There’s no effort required to funnel money into slots or bet hundreds of dollars on red anymore. It’s become incredibly easy, and that could mean encouraging compulsive and impulsive gambling, which could end up harming our mental health.
What Is Responsible Gambling?
Responsible gambling, at its core, means being able to gamble without harming yourself or others. It means being able to control the amount of time and money you spend on it and having the willpower to step away when necessary. There’s a fine line between gambling responsibly and gambling recklessly and an even finer line between dependency and addiction.The proliferation of online gambling has caused the gambling industry to balloon, with so many betting options available to the public today. In response, there have been fears about gambling addiction becoming more pervasive, although we don’t have the statistics to prove it. After all, it would require self-disclosure and awareness of a gambling problem, which not all problem gamblers are ready to admit or are even aware of.
Responsible gambling also encompasses Responsible Gambling (or Safer Gambling)—with a capital G. This refers to a variety of initiatives created by the gambling industry to uphold the standards of their operations and promote addiction awareness. In the US, the laws and regulations vary significantly in different jurisdictions, but most feature advertising restrictions, wager and time limits, self-exclusion programs, responsible gaming plans, and more. These all exist to help hold people more accountable for themselves when participating in gambling and encourage operators to take a more active role in safe gambling.
How Does Gambling Impact Mental Health?
Many might think, “People should be able to do whatever they want with their own money.” And while that statement is true, problem gambling is no different from drug and alcohol addiction. It ends up being a behavior that heavily affects every aspect of that person’s life, as well as their loved ones and people around them. As gambling comes with financial stakes, it already manifests itself as a source of stress if things go wrong, whether they’re losing $100 or $10,000.90% of Americans say money is directly connected to their stress levels, with 65% saying they feel like they can’t overcome their financial difficulties. With the cost of living straining everyone’s wallets year after year, a reliance on gambling could turn into a vicious cycle. People hope to win big by wagering big, lose money, don’t have enough money for their essentials, and start the cycle over again.
In turn, this can have far-reaching impacts on a person’s mental and physical health. The inherent worry and anxiety that come with that financial stress can mean a lack of self-care, not having the energy to tend to responsibilities, neglecting diet, sleep, and physical activity, and experiencing a state of low self-worth.
Problem gamblers often feel a sense of shame when it comes to their gambling activities that can lead to symptoms of depression and hopelessness, causing them to isolate themselves from their family and friends. For those suffering from gambling addiction, this seclusion is often preferable to the guilt and shame that they may feel if their addiction is exposed.
Do Gambling Operators Have a Responsibility to Promote Responsible Gambling?
While we established that gambling operators have a legal responsibility to promote responsible gambling, they also have a responsibility to do so ethically. As they profit from a customer base that includes vulnerable individuals who take risks using their services, they have a duty to protect them. Along with this commitment comes benefits for their reputation, such as increasing customer loyalty.In such a volatile industry, these businesses have an even greater obligation to corporate social responsibility. Profits are important for operations, but they should ultimately take a backseat to the well-being of their customers. When all gambling operators commit to that responsibility, it creates a much healthier perception of the industry as a whole, which helps it thrive in the long term.
Will Gambling Become a Bigger Problem in the Future?
Let’s face it—gambling is only going to become more advanced, accessible, and user-friendly, which means there’s the potential for it to turn into a source of harm. But if operators continue to prioritize responsible gambling, the trajectory could be positive rather than negative.We’re already seeing changes in how we navigate gambling, as well as apps teeming with responsible gambling tools. So, what’s next? Perhaps additional resources and awareness campaigns to help people stay accountable and make sound decisions, or even partnerships with mental health organizations to foster a brand-new gambling environment, would be a step in the right direction.
