Daily Archives: June 6, 2020

Playing the lottery or scratch cards may not be harmless, research suggests.

Although often considered good fun, these mild forms of gambling could be a gateway to troublesome behaviour.

Read more: Gambling loophole must be shut down

Scientists from Curtin University in Perth looked at the gambling habits of more than 2,000 people.

Of the 540 who regularly bought lottery tickets, almost a third reported gambling-related issues like financial difficulties, psychological problems or relationship red flags.

Scratch cards were found to be particularly harmful, possibly due to the instant result and impression players came close to winning.

Playing the lottery may not be 'harmless'. (Getty Images)

A survey of 8,000 adults found more than half (56%) of people in England gambled in 2016, but just 0.7% thought they had a problem.

In the US, almost 10 million (2.6%) are said to be addicted to gambling.

Lottery tickets and scratch cards are often considered harmless, despite little research into their impact.

To learn more, the Australian scientists focused on the 540 participants who bought lottery tickets.

Read more: Philippine police arrest 90 Chinese for illegal gambling

Results, published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, suggest almost a third of the players had some level of gambling-related risk due to their use of lotteries products.

This was more common among the young, male participants. Smokers, vapers and scratch card users were also more at risk.

Lottery tickets aside, other milder forms of gambling may also be more dangerous than they seem.

The data revealed scratchies were particularly harmful, said lead author Leon Booth.

We believe this is because some features of scratchies make them more appealing to problem gamblers, such as instantly letting the user know if they have won a prize and giving users the impression they were close to winning.

We also found people who are generally vulnerable to developing gambling issues, such as younger adults and males, were most likely to experience problems with lottery gambling.

Read more: Vegas casinos reopen after long coronavirus closure

The scientists want people to be more aware of the risks of lottery tickets and scratch cards.

The public needs to understand lottery products such as scratchies and lotto tickets are a true form of gambling and are therefore inappropriate gifts for children and youth, said study author Professor Simone Pettigrew.

Lottery products need to be acknowledged as more than harmless fun and a genuine type ofgambling, andpolicymakersshould act accordingly to reduce harms that result from these products.

Our new findings add to an increasing body of evidence showinglotteryproducts are associated with harm in a substantial minority of users.

Continue reading here:

Lottery and scratch cards not harmless forms of gambling - Yahoo Sports

By: James Colgan June 5, 2020

In a Miami Scramble, a team is rewarded for the performance of its weakest players.

Getty Images

Which spots are on your list of must-see golf destinations? St. Andrews is an easy one, same with Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Bandon and Cabot. What about Florida? South Beach, anyone?

Sure, Miami doesnt have the same cache as some of the aforementioned spots. But the namesake behind this weeks golf gambling game, the Miami Scramble, deserves at least a tip of the cap for birthing a unique twist on a timeless golf format. Heres how you and your buddies can play.

The traditional scramble is a format used by golfers around the world, often in the case of large outings and events. In a scramble, all four golfers play the best ball of their foursome on each successive shot until the ball is in the hole.

As a result of each golfer playing the foursomes best shot, a scramble generally sees improved scoring and pace of play. However, the nature of the format also lends itself to getting dominated by groups featuring one highly-skilled golfer.

In a Miami Scramble, the rules of a traditional scramble are flipped on their head. As opposed to a single low-handicap golfer carrying his or her team, a Miami Scramble requires a teams weakest players to perform well in order to be successful.

A Miami Scramble requires a combination of ability and strategy from all four players. Teams who use their best players tee shot are forced to rely on their other three golfers to carry the remainder of the hole, while those who opt to rely on a tee shot from their lesser players risk losing birdie opportunities off the tee box.

In either case, teams who wish to score well in a Miami Scramble are only as good as their weakest link. If youre ready to raise the stakes (and the temperature) in your next round, its time to try the Miami Scramble.

Follow this link:

In this golf gambling game, your weakest link will make or break you - Golf.com

Banned since March, the gambling industry in Latvia is allowed to resume operations as of next week.

The gambling industry in Latvia is planned to return as of June 9. The legal gaming operators in the country can reinstate business following a parliament bill. The Saeima, which is Latvias parliament, has passed a bill yesterday, June 5, that effectively allows the return of gaming. Under the bill, both online and land-based gaming operations can return to business. With the return of business, the country marks the end of Latvias state of emergency.

All gaming operations in Latvia were banned after a bill introduced on March 22. This was a direct result of the countrys government aiming at reducing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Back in April, the Latvian government updated the bill, effectively banning online gaming with instant effect. The emergency bill however is not the first hit on the gaming market in the country. Last year, the Latvian parliament made changes in the industrys taxation and fees. According to the government, this move was solely to add fresh funds towards the state budget.

With the Latvian bill being passed, operators can resume operations as of June 9. Despite the gaming industry losses, some Latvian deputies disagree. New Conservative Party members Krijnis Feldmans, Gatis Egltis and Linda Ozola submitted an updated bill which aims at continuing the land-based gambling ban in Latvia. Their bill however was rejected.

The deputies bill quickly caught the eye of the Latvian Gaming Association (LGA). According to them, proper actions were taken by the retail gambling prior to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. LGA also pointed out that land-based also took measures towards problem gambling. The association also said: Even before the ban on gambling, industry operators implemented both the virus prevention measures set out in the recommendations of the authorities and measures promoting safe and responsible gambling.

In addition, the association outlined their specialized action plan towards reducing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The measures would include enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols, frequent airing of the rooms but also limited customers per venue. LGA pointed out that as per the action plan, there must be one person per every four square meters. In conclusion the association noted that enhanced social distancing will be applied as well as monitoring of visitors to ensure all rules are followed.

Elsewhere in Europe, the UK announced that the betting venues will reopen as of July 4. Measures in the UK venues will be similar to the Latvian ones. Punters will have access to hand sanitizer, social distancing is also going to be monitored.

Turning our eyes to the United States, many states already restarted their gaming industry. The latest reports show some 25 states that have already opened their gaming venues for visitors. More states are also planning to reopen for visitors in the upcoming weeks. Overall the gaming industry around the globe will need more than a few months to recover from the COVID-19 impact. Keeping in mind the shutdown applied worldwide, most governments have already felt the need for fresh funds which can come from gambling taxation. One can only hope that once the travelling is resumed to normal, the industry will find a way to quickly recover from the devastating COVID-19 hit.

See the original post here:

Latvia to Restart the Gambling Industry on June 9 - GamblingNews.com

It is difficult to keep ones mind in the clear and the sanity intact, given the kind of times we are peddling through. Everywhere we look around, we can only see darkness and uncertainties. 2020 has been looking bleak in every way, and it has pushed us to reconsider our actions and second-guess the kind of lives we have been living all this while. Was it the desired normal? And once this is all over, is it a great idea to go back to that kind of normal, or do we need to stitch a new normal? Well, only times can tell us about this. But, the kind of uncertainty that has loomed large in every sector, it is pretty scary to think of them. People hardly know what to do with their lives, and the economy looks terrible. Months of lockdown have put industries out of business, and it is not very clear when things shall start looking promising again. People have turned to activities that they had not previously thought about, to kill boredom and if possible, make some money out of them.

One such activity is gambling. The gambling industry, just like any other industry, has been severely impacted by COVID-19. Land-based casinos have gone out of business and endangered the livelihood of many. But the only welcome relief amidst the entire crisis is the online casinos. Online casinos have seen a significant increase in their revenue ever since COVID-19 ventured out on a death rampage. People have found a new hobby and a new way to make money. In this article, we shall try to gauge the exact reasons why online casinos have become a hotspot for gambling activities in times as such.

Online Gambling Does Not Require You to Step Out:

People all over the world have been in a lockdown situation for months. And even if the lockdown laws are easing up and people have started going out, everyone is following the social distancing norms. Therefore, online gambling is quite an amazing option to indulge in some fun gambling activities without having to stress much about catching the infection if one goes out. One can just stay home, snug under their blanket while trying their hands in making some fun money.

Online Gambling Makes for an Easy Option to Make Money:

The economy is in a crisis, and people are looking for ways to earn some additional income. Online gambling is one such way to handle the crisis. You can sit home and try making money, without having to try hard to find another job that pays you well. Of course, you have to be careful while gambling online. But,online gambling in NYand several other places have stepped in like a knight in shining armour. There are numerous games that you can play, and if you are careful and lucky enough, you might just end up winning a big amount.

Online Gambling Makes for A Great Way to Kill Boredom:

There is hardly anything new left to try out in these times. People have perhaps read all their books, binge-watched TV shows and tried learning new skills. Online gambling can make for a new thing to do in times as such. You only need to be careful about signing up on these sites, and once you do that, you shall open up the door to a myriad of games to try out. You can never really get bored of these games. Plus, it comes with the added benefit of earning some extra cash. This is something that makes online gambling a much sought after domain during these difficult times.

Final Words:

Online gambling can be an amazing way to beat the quarantine blues and make some money out of the same. And it is specifically the same reason why people all over the world are turning to more and more forms of online entertainment. The gambling sector might be crumbling under the pressure of COVID-19. But, online gambling has come in as a saving grace. Therefore, on one hand, where the land-based casinos have no revenues to turn in, online gambling has been wonderfully saving the day for the gambling industry.

Post Views: 42

Read more:

Gambling in the Times of Coronavirus - The Union Journal

GameStop (NYSE:GME) shareholders: brace for impact. The retailer has pre-announced fiscal 1Q20 results, and the numbers do not look all that good.

Global sales and comps are estimated to come in about one-third below year-ago levels. As a result, adjusted EBITDA will turn from a positive last year to a negative this time. Net loss of roughly $167 million suggests a sizable, negative EPS of $2.50 - although about 75 cents of it should be associated with a one-time charge for inventory obsolescence.

Credit: Bisnow

Although the numbers above look awful on the surface, identifying the short-term impact of the COVID-19 crisis on GameStop's first-quarter results is important. In the retail space, Dollar General (NYSE:DG) comes to mind: maybe 22% in positive comps will not be the new normal going forward, and neither will TJX Companies' (NYSE:TJX) evaporating revenues.

During the quarter, several GameStop stores were closed, even though the company declared itself an "essential business" in order to remain open for a few extra days. But the following quote provides a clue as to how bad the period has been for GameStop, even after accounting for COVID-19 headwinds:

Excluding stores that were closed during the first quarter as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, comparable store sales are expected to decline in the range of approximately 16% to 17%.

The sharp decline in comps ex-closed stores during a period when at-home entertainment should have thrived is worrisome. At the same time, I think the numbers also speak to the well-known challenges faced by the company prior to the pandemic. GameStop continues to suffer from the final few months of the console cycle and a secular shift towards streaming and mobile gaming.

Source: DM Martins Research, using data from company report

It was also interesting to note that cash flow from operations, while still negative, is expected to improve substantially this year. This is due to the company's "focus on optimizing the cash conversion cycle and carrying more efficient levels of inventory, which resulted in accounts payable at the beginning of fiscal 1Q20 being lower".

Yes, GameStop has burned far less cash while being partially shutdown than as a fully-functioning retailer.

Since I wrote my most recent, bearish article on GameStop, the stock has climbed 14% from $3.60/share (granted, against a 22% gain in the S&P 500). But between then and now, shares (1) lost a third of their value in the last week of March, (2) doubled in the first few days of April, and then (3) fell by nearly 30% in the first half of May. Time the entry right, and an investor would have looked like a genius. Time it wrong, and a portfolio's returns would have been embarrassing for the rest of the year at least.

I certainly have fundamental reasons for not liking GameStop and its stock. However, what drives me further from it is not a "hot take" on the future of the company. Rather, it is the stock's erratic price behavior and all the distraction that comes with share ownership.

Data by YCharts

The graph above shows how hard it has been for an investor to deal with GME in the past year. Shares have consistently failed to reclaim 12-month highs, while bouncing all over the place. More important than the business prospects, the stock has been influenced by speculations on the gaming console cycle, drama at the Board of Directors, sky-high short interest, and the buying and selling of shares by a celebrity investor.

There are currently 2,800 names trading at the New York Stock Exchange. Why would I ever consider buying GME, other than for the pure joy of gambling, with so many more compelling alternatives to it in the market?

I use an approach that favors predictability of financial results and broad diversificationwhen choosing stocks for my All-EquitiesStorm-Resistant Growthportfolio. So far, the small $229/year investment to become a member of the SRG community has lavishly paid off, as the chart below suggests. I invite you toclick hereand take advantage of the 14-day free trial today.

Disclosure: I am/we are long DG, TJX. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

View post:

GameStop's Awful First Quarter And The Joy Of Gambling - Seeking Alpha

Photograph courtesy of Armon Owlia for The Triangle

Listen to this episode of Mark and Jair Explain Sports online:

This week, Mark and Jair have an inside scoop about the gambling industry from a U.S. Integrity member, COO Scott Sadin. Sadin pointed out companies that interact with U.S. Integrity. One noticeable partner of Integrity sports is the NBA. After having Dave Barritt as a guest last week, it was good to take another dive into the gambling world of sports. If youre interested in taking a highly recommended sports gambling course, visit https://sportsgamblingeducation.com/.

Earlier today the NBA announced more regarding its plan to restart and finish the 2019-20 NBA Season. The season is expected to resume on July 31. Many people question team chemistry and they may have a point. We shall see. Will LeBron James lead the Lakers to triumph, or will it be another upset and bitter ending to a season with high expectations? Lets talk more next week.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Mark and Jair Explain Sports. Both Mark and Jair will come up with several different sports topics to discuss during their podcast. Be sure to follow them on Instagram @exsportsdrexel.

See the original post:

A Deeper Dive Into Gambling - The Triangle - Drexel University The Triangle Online

Improving your edge when gambling is tricky, but there are a few things you can do to boost your chances of winning.

Reading books about strategy is one of them for sure, but for many people listening to gambling-related podcasts will be a much more appealing option.

In order to give you a head start, we have picked out a few of the best gambling podcasts.

Anyone who has fancied taking a peek behind the curtain in Las Vegas should definitely give the Behind the Bets podcast a go. Featuring the ESPN gambling analyst Doug Kezirian and guests, the Behind the Bets show has had to be innovative of late in order to make up for the lack of sports action. Behind the Bets has instead looked at options such as betting on eSports such as League of Legends, as well as picking out random sports around the world that have continued.

With almost 25,000 followers on Twitter, Behind the Bets is one of the worlds top gambling podcasts. Like most of our recommendations, there is one episode a week and it is released for free on all of the usual podcasts platforms that you likely already use for audio entertainment.

Next up is Gambling With an Edge, which comes from pro gamblers Bob Dancer and Richard Munchkin. This is a great choice for anyone who is hoping to go pro in the world of gambling.

The Gambling With an Edge podcast is coming up to its 10-year anniversary, so there are hundreds of episodes to go through for anyone who is looking to use some time on improving their edge. Episodes normally have a special guest who adds insight into the gambling world.

Unlike some of the other podcasts that are online gambling guides catering to a worldwide audience, Against All Odds with Cousin Sal is focused first and foremost on humour. The titular Sal is the host of Cousin Sals Sure Thing and many will recognize him from Jimmy Kimmels show. Sal brings on a variety of celebrity guests to discuss their involvement in gambling, with all kinds of sports covered everything from NBA and the NFL to competitive eating.

Las Vegas experts regularly appear and this podcast has a massive audience, with more than 200,000 Twitter followers. Recent guests who have been on Against All Odds with Cousin Sal include the Hall of Fame boxing trainer Teddy Atlas, who is also a top fight commentator. The show also recently featured the former football star Michael Irvin to discuss the NFL draft.

Aimed at more of a casual crowd, You Can Bet on That is still a fun listen for anyone trying to broaden their gambling horizons. The show has been running since early 2012, with hundreds of episodes having been released during that time. Regular hosts Mark DeVol and Dr. Mike go into great detail on how to improve your edge at gambling, with poker a particular focus on the show.

Another long-lasting show, The Sports Gambling Podcast does exactly what it says in the title. Run by Sean Green and Ryan Kramer, there are usually multiple episodes a week to listen to.

The Sports Gambling Podcast covers all of the latest important sports and gambling news, as well as bringing game previews to their large audience. Free picks are available on the show and this is one of the top reasons for people to tune into this entertaining podcast.

More than 10,000 people follow The Sports Gambling Podcast on Twitter, so it is clearly a highly trusted product.

Anyone who is seeking to improve their gambling edge should definitely think about subscribing to The Action Network Sports Betting Podcast. Advice for DraftKings and FanDuel lineups is regularly featured, so daily fantasy sports fans will find a lot to like about the show.

The Action Network Sports Betting Podcast has won the Best Betting Podcast or Radio Show prize from the Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association, indicating it is one of the very best in the business right now. Top guests are often on the show, with golf pro Keegan Bradley having recently featured along with NFL draft betting specialist Matthew Freedman.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Read more from the original source:

Best Gambling Podcasts to Improve Your Edge - ThatShelf.com

The Oregon Lottery announced plans May 29 to soon offer imaginary sports on its mobile sports betting app.

Gamblers who signed up for the Scoreboard app can bet on "virtual sporting events, including virtual horse racing, greyhound racing and soccer." Unlike real competitions involving humans and animals, the outcomes of virtual sports are determined by computer programs called "random number generators."

Lottery spokesman Matt Shelby says the agency believes it will be able to offer the new betting opportunities "in a matter of weeks."

"In terms of functionality, we just have to turn it on," he adds.

Kitty Martz, an anti-gambling activist who regularly testifies in front of the Lottery Commission, opposes the move and submitted testimony in opposition last week.

Martz notes that virtual games are created by programs called "random number generators," which are also used to power the agency's most lucrative games, video slot machines.

"There are no elements of skill or analytics, just fast paced, graphically-appealing, adrenaline-pumping imagery that can be available 24/7 because it is not reliant on the outcome of actual sporting events," she says.

She is asking lawmakers to block virtual games on Scoreboard, citing Shelby's 2019 testimony that the Lottery would never allow video slots on its mobile app. "We do not believe that passes the responsible gambling test," Shelby said then.

But a lot has changed since last year.

The lottery has long been the state's second largest source of revenue after personal income taxes. But the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the agency, which gets most of its money from video lottery products offered in taverns and restaurants, which shut down mid-March and are only now beginning to re-open.

Shelby defends the decision to introduce virtual games and disagrees with Martz's comparison to video lottery.

"From a behind the scenes math perspective, it's much more like Keno than video lottery, and nowhere near the high velocity play of video," he says.

Shelby says what he said to the Legislature last year remains true.

"We still do not have any plans to offer Video Lottery, or slot-style, games on a mobile device," he says. "That said, things today are different than last year. The public health issues we're facing are prompting us to look at how we could use digital channels to reduce face-to-face interactions. Nothing planned yet, but we are brainstorming. Moving forward, the key word is balance; public health, responsible gambling, employee and retailer safety, and of course revenue."

In other countries, lottery agencies already offer betting on virtual games as "filler" between sporting seasons, Shelby says.

"It's an open question as to whether we keep it when sports come back," Shelby says. "If players like it and it's popular, we would want to keep it in some form."

Read the original here:

Hammered by COVID-19, The Oregon Lottery Plans to Offer Gambling on Virtual Sports - Willamette Week

You hear a lot about responsible gambling, or responsible gaming, as the industry likes to call it.

But what is responsible gambling?

What effect does gambling have on individuals, families, and society as a whole?

And how can gamblers cooperate with the industry to ensure that responsible gambling is encourage and promoted.

This post offers some suggestions for both the industry and the individual.

Its not like responsible gambling is a new idea, but the casino industry hasnt changed much until about 20 years ago. At that time, new types of gambling started proliferating at a faster rate. For one thing, internet gambling became a thing. For another, tribal casino growth started skyrocketing in the United States, increasing the availability of casino gambling throughout the USA.

Legislators and industry execs are now starting to contemplate being more proactive in encouraging responsible gambling. After all, if the casinos turn every customer into a gambling addict who destroys his family finances, their businesses wont last forever. Eventually, they will face a backlash.

The answer is for casinos and legislators to work together to create best practices and processes that discourage irresponsible gambling while not hurting business.

Responsible gambling is one of those things thats probably easiest to define by looking at its opposite problem gambling.

What do problem gamblers do?

They gamble with money they cant afford to lose. They gamble without joy. They gamble compulsively.

Responsible gamblers, on the other hand, have their bills caught up and money set aside for entertainment. They only gamble with that money. They quit when theyre no longer having fun or when theyre getting tired.

Responsible gamblers are operating from a choice or a decision.

Problem gamblers seem to have lost the ability to choose whether to gamble and how much to gamble.

Casinos dont directly go to players and say, Hey. Lets take out a 2nd mortgage on your home so you can come gamble.

But historically, they have created games especially slot machines which intentionally push the addiction buttons in gamblers brains.

In fact, the science behind slot machines, their payback percentages, and their hit ratios could almost be considered insidious. The thought process behind creating these slot machine games reminds me of the thought process tobacco executives must have engaged in over the years as they added chemicals to cigarettes to keep them burning even when they werent being puffed on. (Cigars go out when youre not smoking them, but cigarettes keep burning thats so they can sell more product.)

But casinos are growing increasingly aware that they need to account for their business practices so they dont ruin lives.

I drew a comparison between cigarette companies and the casino industry, but I could have easily drawn multiple other comparisons.

For example, fast food has created increasingly addictive foods at increasingly attractive prices, all in the name of increased profits. They add sugar, salt, and fat to foods in copious amounts because such flavors create an addictive response in their customers driving more business.

Theyve also made buying their products faster and more convenient than ever before.

Television is another example. The price of television sets has dropped dramatically over the course of my life, and the quality of the programming has improved. At the end of the day, though, this has all been in service of our corporate overlords. They want to see my attention to their advertisers.

And its a profitable business.

Ill provide one final example social media, especially Facebook.

Have you noticed that the default move for refreshing your screen on Facebook is the same as pulling a lever on a slot machine?

The idea is that you dont know what kind of reward youre going to get.

The idea of likes is also another tool to get you addicted to the social media platform.

And to what purpose?

Again, its all so they can sell your attention to advertisers.

One recent effort by the industry has been for various industry associations to join forces with universities and responsible gambling advocates to study which best practices actually help achieve the goal of responsible gambling.

This led to the formation of the Responsible Gaming Collaborative.

Who participates in this effort?

Universities like Harvard and Yale are involved, as well as the American Gaming Association. They also have representatives from medical schools and other gambling industry organizations. Theyve tried to be comprehensive and solicit participation from people in the tribal casino industry, the horse racing industry, and the lottery industry.

Their goal is to create legal frameworks and operating policies that actually work to promote and encourage responsible gambling.

Their starting point is to create an exhaustive overview of what policies are now in place at various gambling businesses. The idea is to pinpoint which policies work and which ones dont.

Time will tell, but Im optimistic.

Heres why:

The idea is to focus like a laser on where government money is being spent effectively and where government oversight is working. The idea is to prevent damage to individuals and society from the negative effects that gambling can foster.

In other words, they just want to figure out which strategies for preventing gambling problems actually work, as opposed to those that dont.

Right now, the gambling industry spends $300 million a year to encourage responsible gambling. That might seem like a small amount when compared to the size of the industry itself, which is a $70+ billion industry worldwide, but its still not exactly small change.

And right now, there are no measures in place to measure the effectiveness of that spend. There are no consistent accountability measures to speak of when looking at that spend.

In fact, most experts agree that problem gambling hasnt gotten the research it deserves.

And since sports betting has just become legal in multiple states, and its expected to become legal in still more states, such research is more important now than ever before.

Problem gambling is probably a bigger problem than most people think.

And blaming the sick person is almost certainly the wrong approach. Vilifying problem gamblers or categorizing them as weak people with low character, does little to help improve society. Its also not fair or accurate.

It doesnt seem to matter what the gambling activity is problem gamblers will have problems with it. It doesnt matter if youre talking about the lottery, slot machines, or sports betting. These activities all have the potential to ruin peoples lives.

Problem gamblers come from all walks of life, too, although some demographics are more prone than others. Senior citizens, for example, often develop problems. But college students, minorities, and the military also develop problems.

How many people in the United States have a gambling problem?

Its estimated that its about 2.5 million, and only 15% of those people seek treatment of some kind.

And until now, public policy has focused largely on looking into what can be done for problem gamblers who seek treatment. Little attention has been paid to prevention efforts.

Gamblers Anonymous has list of 20 questions to ask yourself about your gambling habits. These can give you a good idea of what the difference between responsible gambling and compulsive gambling is.

The first question on their list is whether youve lost time from work or school because you were gambling. Responsible gamblers dont set aside their major responsibilities to gamble.

The 2nd question has to do with whether your gambling has made your home life unhappy. Im not a compulsive gambler, but I am a recovering alcoholic. And I can promise you, my home life was unhappy as a result of my drinking.

Does gambling affect your reputation?

That usually doesnt happen unless you have a problem.

Responsible gamblers dont feel remorseful after gambling. Responsible gamblers also dont gamble to try to pay debts or solve their financial problems.

People who lose efficiency at work or lack ambition because of their gambling might have a problem, too.

No one should gamble until theyre broke. Thats an obvious sign of a problem.

You shouldnt sell your belongings to have money to gamble with.

Basically, if you have any kinds of life problems related to your gambling, you might be a problem gambler.

By definition, if you dont have problems related to your gambling, youre not a problem gambler.

My advice?

Stick with a budget and have other hobbies. Dont gamble money you need for other things. If you develop any kind of problem related to your gambling, its time to quit immediately. Dont wait until the problem gets big.

Responsible gambling is better than problem gambling. Casinos should do more to promote responsible gambling because its the right thing to do. Youre always going to deal with businesses which dont much care and just want to make as much money as possible.

But a large percentage of businesses want to make a buck ethically, too. Some of these industry associations are making efforts.

Well see how well those efforts bear fruit in the coming years.

More:

How to Gamble Responsibly - What Is Problem Gambling and Addiction - BestUSCasinos.org

Another legislation session has passed, and Alabama still has no lottery.

Actually, the legislature does not in itself have the authority to pass a state lottery, they can only authorize a ballot initiative to let you vote on a lottery. It takes a constitutional amendment.

The lottery would pass in a vote in Alabama simply because Alabamians are tired of their money going out of state to Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Tennessee.

All our surrounding Southern sister states have lotteries and Alabamians are buying lottery tickets in those states, paving their roads, and educating their students.

It would pass In Alabama in a unified bipartisan vote. Alabamians who would not or never have bought a lottery ticket would vote for it, and those that must trek to our bordering states to buy them definitely would vote in favor.

It is well known that the locations that sell the highest numbers of lottery tickets in Florida and Georgia are on the Alabama border.

The lottery proposal this year was doomed from the beginning because Governor Kay Ivey in her State-of-the-State address announced that she was taking an interest in the issue and announced a study group to study gambling policy for the state.

Governor Ivey had never taken a position for or against gambling as Lt. Governor or during her campaign for governor or as Governor. Therefore, when she took to the stage in the State-of-the-State, it was apparent that she was finally weighing in on the issue.

Well, folks, she did not just appoint any old study group, she quickly named a panel of Alabamians that are blue chip, top of the chart, super Alabama leaders.

This distinguished group is above reproach and have no ties or for that matter no real interest in gambling. Most of them have probably never even bought a lottery ticket or pulled a slot machine lever.

However, you can bet that this group will come up with a wise and prudent approach to how Alabama should address the gambling solution for our state.

Kay Ivey has been able to get the best citizens in Alabama to participate in major decisions and initiatives.

However, it would be difficult to find a bluer ribbon, stellar accomplished group of Alabamians as she has selected and garnered to serve on this panel to study gambling.

It will be chaired by former Montgomery Mayor, Todd Strange.

He has been successful in business and government and is above reproach and well respected.

Other members of this impressive group include Rey Almodovar of Huntsville, who founded and runs a major engineering firm in the Rocket City; Deborah Barnhart of Huntsville, who is the Chief Executive Officer emerita of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville; Walter Bell of Mobile is the past chairman of the worlds largest reinsurance companies and a former Alabama Commissioner of Insurance; Dr. Regina Benjamin of Mobile, who is a physician who served as the 18th Surgeon General of the United States and before that was President of the Medical Association of Alabama; former State Treasurer and retired banker, Young Boozer, who is universally respected; Sam Cochran, who has been Mobile Countys Sheriff since 2006; Liz Huntly, a widely respected attorney and child advocate in Birmingham; Carl Jamison of Tuscaloosa, a third-generation shareholder of one of Alabamas largest and oldest public accounting firms; former Alabama Supreme Court Justice and Court of Appeals Judge, Jim Main; and the legendary journalist, Phil Rawls, who recently retired as Alabamas leading and most respected reporter he covered Alabama government for the Associated Press for 35 years.

Perhaps the most respected and accomplished member of this elite panel is Bishop Dr. Mike Watson.

He is the Bishop in Residence at Canterbury Methodist Church in Birmingham and is serving as the Ecumenical Chairman of the Council of Bishops.

He has served and founded major Methodist Churches in Dothan and Mobile. He is also the past president of the Mobile School Board. I have known Mike Watson since our college days at the University of Alabama. I have never known a better man.

You will probably see this study groups recommendations on the top of Governor Iveys agenda when she gives the 2021 State-of-the-State address next February.

Steve Flowers is Alabamas leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the Alabama legislature.

Read more:

Stellar group studying gambling in the state | Opinion | times-journal.com - Times-Journal