Daily Archives: December 15, 2020

Gambling addiction is a clinically recognized problem that requires special therapy and medical intervention in most cases to achieve full recovery. The premise of gambling is simple you risk something you have in the hopes of adding to the value of your original stake.

However, by repeatedly engaging with products recognized as gambling, many people are prone to developing gambling addiction or showing symptoms of compulsive gambling without realizing it. If you find yourself addicted to gambling, this article is your path to recovery and understanding pathological gambling better.

The official gambling addiction definitionstates that an individual must experience an uncontrollable urge to gamblewith increasing amounts despite the high risk involvedand possibly serious consequences for ones own well-being or the well-being of family members, friends, and loved ones. Gambling can be addictive because it targets the brains reward system and leads to the release of dopamine, the hormone connected with happiness.

However, not all people are at risk of developing compulsive or pathological gambling. In fact, most people are able to resist, but a good number of people are experiencing problem gamblingor are at risk of becoming compulsive gamblers themselves.

Today, gambling addiction or compulsive gambling is a mental health issue, and the addiction at its core is equated to abuseof substancessuch as alcoholand drugs. Gambling affects more men than women, but it is a genderless disorder with a high incidence across the human population. Different countries around the world recognize gambling addiction as a serious mental problem that needs specialist intervention.

The term compulsion used to describe an independent aberration but today compulsive gambling is equated to or synonymous with gambling addiction.

Problem gambling begins discreetly and privately. In most cases, an individual is unaware that they are developing an addiction to compulsive gambling right to the point where the condition starts interfering with day-to-day chores and responsibilities. Anxietyor depressionis another concomitant symptom of burgeoning or pathological gambling addiction. Similar to other addictions, as in the case of substance addicts who overuse drugs or alcohol, problem gambling is driven on by a chemical component in the brain.

Compulsive gamblers feel rewarded for pursuing an activity that feels good, but this feeling of elation or high, is connected to a chemical response from the brain which floods the frontal cortex with dopamine. Addictive substances may trick the brain into releasing these hormones that are ten levels above normal levels.

Studies have established that gambling products can elicit the same chemical response from peoples brains, leading to high-dopamine production and spiraling into problem gambling without the knowledge of the individual.

Impulsivity and reward-seeking behavior become norms without explanation and perfectly ordinary individuals begin to behave as problem gamblers, showing symptoms and signs of gambling addiction that appear almost without a warning. Today gambling addiction is also referred to as gambling disorderand it encompasses an effort by the scientific community, including the American Psychiatric Association, to establish the reasons behind addictive behavior, in gambling and beyond.

By now, research has shown that addicts, regardless of their chosen form of addiction, whether that is substance abuse problems or gambling products, have a genetic predisposition that gives insight into how these problems develop, evolve, and how they can be eventually treated to the benefit of problem gamblers. Gambling is officially recognized as an impulse control disorderand this is good news because treatment professionals are tasked with making feel better. But first, they need to know how to read the symptoms.

Gambling addiction in patients tends to be approached differently. To start helping, though, experts must first identify gambling addictionsignsand symptoms, which is essential to getting an early start in treatment. These symptoms will vary between individuals in terms of intensity and some may remain hidden until very late in the addiction.

From the standpoint of most problem gamblers, gambling addiction is described as a complete loss of controlover the individuals ability to control spending habits, even though the potentially ruinous consequences are well-understood by the majority of pathological gamblers.

Therefore, problem gambling will always pivot around core behavioral aberrations that can be predicted, studied, and counterweightedin therapy or by the individual themselves depending on how advanced the compulsion is.

To spot a symptom, you may use our manual, which will help you help determine if you are currently showing compulsive gambling symptoms to a point where they need professional help.

Even if you are not a problem gambler, it is always important to monitor your condition, especially if you have a history of substance abuse in your family or recognize addictive patterns in your own behavior. Here are several points that constitute symptoms and signs of gambling addiction.

Thanks to clinical experience and government-funded research, we understand the downsides of gambling a little better. Moreover, studying gambling has allowed health expertsto come with a very detailed breakdown and create accessible help materials that will assist you in identifying a problem if there is one. More importantly, remember to answer truthfully to the following questions for accurate results:

The National Healthcare System (NHS) in the United Kingdom recommends using a four-answer system where you will score differently based on your answers. Your answers should be never, sometimes, most of the time, almost always and you should score 0, 1, 2, and 3 for each respectively. If your score is higher than 8, the NHS suggests that you may be a problem gambler or you may have a gambling addiction.

Pathological gamblingis not an easy thing to deal with, and this is why governments continue to spend money on research and to fund specialist clinic centers. While some individuals may find it easier to distance themselves from compulsive gambling, for others fighting addiction is a life-long struggle.

Compulsion has a powerful pull and most health experts try to find a way that individuals can stay away from temptation, and resist your craving to gamble. With this said, stopping gambling is easy, but replacing it with a positive, constructive emotion can take time, effort, and grit.

The good news is that despite the difficulties, maintaining recovery is very possible, although it may require lifestyle changes and constant effort of will on your part. Certain pathologies, such as mental disorders, can be channeled into something positive. Start small and remember that exerting control over behavior is essential to long-lasting effects. Self-help is a good place to start, but you may seek professional help over time.

When you are a diagnosed gambling addict, the best thing you can do is to stop gambling. To do so, you must put some distance between gambling products and yourself. However, this is difficult at a time when the Internet makes it very easy for gambling firms to have targeted outreach through data use. Because of this, gambling companies know exactly who wishes to gamble based on social media and browser history.

Thankfully, there is a solution. You can put considerable distance between yourself and temptations. Avoid searching for gambling, and channel addiction elsewhere. Flag every ad you get on social media or Google that targets you, explaining that you are a recovering gambling addict and such content must not be displayed to you.

Avoid visiting casinos, whether in person or online and ask your friends and family members to respect your wishes in not bringing topics that are associative with your gambling addiction or that may trigger a strong urge to gamble.

Gambling addiction can be controlled by a system of checks and balances whereby you create a social circle that will help you keep yourself in check. Networking and joining groups with other people experiencing the same issues as you are, or better yet, who have recovered completely, is a good way to begin your recovery.

In addiction vernacular, individuals who take care of struggling addicts are known as mentors. Peer groups can have a strong and positive influence on your life, creating a sort of achievement system which you want to unlock, and that influences your life for the better.

When the desire to gamble becomes too strong, make sure to reach out to family, friends, or your designated mentor. Relapses are common, so do not beat yourself up if you do happen to give in on occasion, but know that your recovery depends on unwavering determination.

Because addiction takes time to tackle, and then effort and consistency to maintain recovery, many people create if-scenarios where they agree to complete a certain part of their treatment if they are allowed to experience the subject of their addiction.

Such if-statements are dangerous and they do not address the issue at hand, but rather postpone the urge to gamble and lead to pent-up desire to play. The best way to deal with any compulsive or pathological gambling is to be aware of your situation and not predicate your recovery on future rewards.

In todays world, avoiding exposure to gambling productscan be difficult. Clever algorithms target you to the point where you almost cannot avoid running into a piece of advertisement, regardless of the medium that is used to deliver the message. However, this is where smart and powerful self-help tools come in handy.

Online gambling may seem all-pervasive, but advanced gambling markets have rolled out solutions that will literally block your access from every licensed operator in the country that is part of the exclusion program. Such programs exist in all European regulated markets, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.

They are admittedly developed better in some regions than others, but ultimately they are used to treat pathological gambling. Governments still have to put more effort into helping gambling addicts, but the good news is that considerable efforts have already been made.

Gambling addicts have many ways out of this difficult position. The main challenge addicts face has to do with the fact that they are reluctant to admit they have a problem. Forcing therapy or treatment options on individuals rarely work, as an addict much more likely to resist help unless they have opted into it.

To this end, all recovery and treatment processes are predicated on the willingness of participants. An individual who acknowledges that they have a gambling problem can start experimenting with ways that allow him or her to control their failings.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a good approach to mental health. The therapy is predicated on finding the underlying reason for your behavior and why certain things trigger you. Most commonly, the conclusion is that certain experiences elicit a stronger response in your brain that sends a dopamine rush.

By teaching yourself to study, analyze, and understand these individual bursts of hormones, you can master and model your behavior in a way that is positive and healthy. There are many private and government treatment centers that offer this type of therapy.

Sometimes, an individual may experience a range of mental health problems that relate to and tie into gambling addiction. In fact, conditions such as OCDand ADHDmay be the originator of negative emotions that make you seek validation or quick thrill by engaging in reckless gambling behavior. Therefore some mood stabilizers and anti-depressants can go a long way in helping you deal with your gambling problem. Remember to not resort to medication on your own and seek professional help.

Self-help for gambling addiction is becoming very popular. Some people prefer to try and deal with the issue on their own. This is a perfectly valid approach and individuals who are strong-willed and in the habit of addressing their behavior analytically stand to benefit. Joining peer groups is a way to have a natural self-check and

Relapses are a problem gamblers bigger fear. Unfortunately, they also happen quite often, which is not in itself something to be worried about. Mental health and achieving a healthy mindset towards your gambling problem are important, and a relapse is not an end of your road to recovery.

Just the opposite, you need to develop the right attitude towards this momentary setback. Instead of hiding it, fearing stigma the same way you probably first hid your gambling addiction, its best to open up to a loved one, your support group, or a health specialist.

Dont let the cravings simmer and fester. Talk out your issue or urge to gamble with someone whom you trust and who has proven a moral bulwark for your recovery. The support of people whom you have come to trust and appreciate is essential to genuinely pushing past your addiction.

If you do relapse, dont spend too much time agonizing over this. It happens, and the fact you feel guilty means that you are advancing in your recovery. Talk out what you have achieved by relapsing and whether it was worth it.

Compare how you felt during recovery with how you felt when you satisfied your urge. More often than not, you will establish that your addiction is now physically and mentally unpleasant and your desire to gamble is much lesser than before you started treatment.

Relapses arent too bad when they happen, and if anything, they are a quick reality-check if your treatment is working.

Addiction simply means that you have enough energy and determination, notwithstanding the chemical factor involved. You can channel your determination to pursue an activity into something that has a far more beneficial effect on you.

Of course, moderation will be essential, as the goal is to master addictive behavior, not encourage it in one form or another. You can take up any hobby that has to do with sports, music, art, books or anything you wish, really.

Even 15 minutes of exercise a day can help you achieve much better mental health. Exercise releases dopamine and boosts your cognitive and mental abilities, leading to a healthier lifestyle free of cravings to achieve momentary satisfaction.

Remind yourself that your pursuit of the almighty dollar is illusionary and that gambling is rigged and statistically stacked against you. You cannot realistically expect the win simply because the odds are against you, and this is always the case.

Who is at a risk to develop a gambling addiction? Gambling problems come in many forms, but understanding the type of personality that it would take to go over the tipping point is important to understand impulse control disorders in the first place.

Common risk factors are now identified, but they are by no means final or a blueprint. However, gambling studies have proven with a fair degree of accuracy that there are several ways to understand who is the most at risk from pathological gambling.

Maybe you have been told that you ought to hide your gambling problems for the sake of decency. Perhaps that used to be right, but support and reaching out to others is the best way to tackle gambling addictions.

Today, treatment professionals encourage their patients to share stories so that people who are only beginning to deal with their issues may know they are not alone. While your suffering may seem personal and exclusive, your emotions are universal and human, and by sharing, you can cope and move on with your life.

No problem gambling story should be buried or covered up. By opening up, you will be helping others to see a way out as well as assist researchers and professionals who are genuinely concerned to study and understand problem gambling and a gamblers mind closer. All this health information can be put to good use.

To convince you that you are not in this alone, we have put together the stories of people whom you may know, but to whom you will feel a unique connection after hearing about their own experience with gambling. Read the personal gambling stories of people who have been through the crucible of problem gambling:

Pathological gamblers need help to address a gambling problem. This can be a loved one or trained medical professionals, a helpline, or a peer group. Whatever your choice and approach to tackling gambling addictions, you can rest assured that help is readily available.

Pathological gambling is a condition that should be taken seriously and deserves the attention of health experts. Thankfully, attitudes towards problem gamblers have evolved and your struggle is recognized as a valid medical concern.

With the help of your family, friends, peer groups, a helpline, or treatment facility, you can make sure that you deal with your impulses and control your cravings.

By following your healthcare professional advice and building a safe environment for yourself, you can not only learn to live with gambling addiction but outlive it. You can do better, and your friends, family, and people you love believe in you.

Problem gambling, also known as compulsive gambling, pathological gambling, or gambling addiction in laymens terms, is a mental health issue that affects close to 0.5% of the population. Its characterized by the compulsive need to spend money on gambling and gambling without a stop.

Yes, gambling addiction is a type of impulse control disorder and is a recognized mental health problem. Sufferers cannot control themselves from making potentially perilous decisions that impact their livelihoods, mental, and physical well-being.

Find a therapist, use self-exclusion tools, and join a support group. Fighting gambling addiction and avoiding relapsing is a lifetime battle. With proper nurturing and guidance, you can avoid returning to pathological gambling, though.

Healthcare facilities, free clinics, non-for-profit organizations all offer help in dealing with problem gambling. Pathological gamblers can find numerous organizations willing to help, including GamblersAnonymous, GamCare, GamStop, and more.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, peer groups, gambling addiction treatment programs are among the most popular choices. Self-help is another viable option with free clinics offering pro-bono help to problem gamblers.

Gambling addiction begins with anxiety, overspending, and constant preoccupation about gambling games. Individuals experiencing gambling addiction may lie to, borrow, or steal money from friends, family, and employers to fuel their habit.

The rest is here:

What Is Gambling Addiction and Problem Gambling? - GamblingNews.com

Craig Carton recently made his official return to WFAN following a saga that saw him serve time in prison following a conviction on securities and wire fraud. In his return to the airwaves, Carton opened up about his gambling addiction, which was a major force in what drove him down that road, and how the business of sports radio can conflict with his recovery process.

He mentioned in that discussion that WFAN has given him the chance to do some specialized programming on the station. Now, Carton is following through on that with a new weekly radio program on WFAN dedicated to gambling addictions.

Hello, My Name is Craig, which will air every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. starting January 9 on the New York sports station, intends to be a responsible gambling show and will be sponsored by 1-800-GAMBLER, a hotline to help those with gambling addictions.

Theyre going to bring their expertise into it, Carton said on Thursday per Newsday. Ill tell the stories of gambling and the way my addiction manifested itself in the bad decisions I made, which became criminal. Theyre the experts. Theyre the ones that are going to walk us through whats going on inside our noggin that makes us irrational and leads to an addiction.

Carton does not make any gambling picks on his main WFAN program, Carton & Roberts. As part of his sentence, he also is required to serve 150 hours of community service.

There are still many who cant set aside what Carton did and the victims of his scheme. But hes hoping that this program, along with the messaging he provides during his other WFAN programming, will make a difference for others dealing with addition before they end up in a similar place.

Im looking forward to that part of my life, he said on Thursday. Im looking forward to making a positive change in the world and using my mistakesHopefully, that will resonate with you.

Cartons problems with gambling and the fallout of his addition were also the topic of the HBO documentary Wild Card: The Downfall of a Radio Loudmouth.

[NY Post, Newsday]

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Craig Carton to host gambling addiction show "Hello, My Name Is Craig" on WFAN - Awful Announcing

Earlier this week, the UK government announced that it would finally make a comprehensive review of the UK Gambling industry and in particular, the 2005 Gambling Act.

Gambling companies are expecting that the government may put restrictions on the amount a casino player can bet per spin on popular online slots such as Rainbow Riches. If this was to happen, it is likely that revenues of gambling companies, online casinos in particular, would decrease. Online slot games remain one of the most popular forms of gambling in the United Kingdom.

Ian Proctor, The UK Chairman of Flutter Entertainment which is the parent company of online gambling giants, Paddy Power and Sky Bet told the BBC that he thinks gambling rules do need to be updated for the digital age, he said:

We take [problem gambling] incredibly seriously, but lets also get this in a little bit of context.

For millions of people every week, they enjoy a bet, its a leisure activity, it gives people a lot of pleasure. For some people its not, for a small minority. And we need to make gambling safer for those people.

Whilst it is clear and obvious that the chairman of one of the biggest gambling companies in the world would prefer any new Gambling Act to not be too strict on online gambling, it is not a secret that a large portion of the UK population enjoys gambling. Therefore, it seems to be the case that the UK government needs to find a balance on rules surrounding UK gambling.

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston stated that the review should strike a balance between individual freedom and protecting problem gamblers. Earlier this year, the former Labour MP Tom Watson who was one of parliaments loudest voices for gambling reform, joined Flutter entertainment as its advisor on problem gambling.

The gambling lobby within the UK remains strong so it is unlikely that any changes to gambling laws in the UK will affect the largest companies too drastically. On the other hand, The Guardian has called for the Gambling Review to be free of industry influence and political dithering.

The online casino market in the UK is one of the largest in the world. Currently, any gambling operator that wishes to offer its services to the UK public, must receive a license to do so from the UK Gambling Commission.

The gambling industry in the UK has been regulated since the 2005 Gambling Act came into law. Regulating the industry ensures that online gambling in the country remains safe as the UKGC watchdog ensures that all operating casinos are trustworthy and fair. However, since 2005, the gambling in the UK has moved predominantly online which is why UK parliament and safe gambling bodies would like the Act to be updated so it fits the modern age of online gambling.

Slot games at online casinos remain popular for UK punters. Some online slots allow players to bet up to and beyond 200 per spin.

In May 2020, searches for the term online casino reached an all-time high. The majority of searches were performed by casino players in Hull followed by Stoke-on-Trent and finally Bradford. HSBC UK stated that between January and April of this year, more than 16.5 million had been gambled on HSBC credit cards. Credit card gambling was given a blanket ban in April 2020.

There are murmurs that the review will clamp down on sports betting advertisements on both the television and on the shirts of football teams. Currently, over 50% of Premier League football teams have a shirt sponsored by a betting company whilst all sports even broadcasted on the television in the UK will showcase numerous betting companies.

The huge popularity of the Premier League means that football betting is one of the largest gambling markets.

Despite the news of the launch of a comprehensive UK gambling review, share prices of the largest gambling operators have remained stable. Politicians have discussed for several years now that they will look into the gambling industry, so a review is not a surprise.

The UK gambling industry also generated hundreds of millions of pounds per year to the UK treasury in the form of taxes. Unless taxes on gambling companies are raised, if gambling companies lose out on revenue then so will the treasury.

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The UK Gambling Act Set to be Reviewed, Online Slots Including Rainbow Riches Could face Betting Restrictions - ABCmoney.co.uk

More than a year after the Conservatives committed to gambling reform in their election manifesto, the long-awaited review of the 2005 Gambling Act is finally here.

For years a coalition of cross-party MPs, peers and campaigners have called for the reform of a maligned piece of legislation that botched the liberalisation of the market and opened the floodgates to harmful gambling practices. Recognising the popularity of gambling reform, particularly among voters in the former red wall, the government is now pressing ahead with a review it first promised in November 2019.

Much has changed since then: a general election, new ministers and a pandemic that has redefined the regulatory landscape and the role of government not to mention the fortunes of the gambling industry itself. Online operators have reaped the rewards of Covid lockdowns with a boost to profits.

That change has also altered the scope of the gambling review. What initially began as a vague pledge to examine loot boxes in video games and gambling with credit cards has since evolved into an extensive and ambitious assessment of the existing legislation. Almost all angles of the gambling debate will be scrutinised, from questions of player protection and game design to the role of the Gambling Commission, rules on advertising and the option of an industry levy to fund addiction research and treatment.

The majority of individuals and organisations involved in this debate will welcome the broad nature of the review, and most should support the governments apparent willingness to deal with difficult questions.

However, we should all remember the gambling industrys resistance to reform to fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in 2018, in which industry operators and an often intransigent government department were at odds with campaigners, academics, public health experts and the victims of gambling-related harm.

For the gambling review to succeed, it is therefore essential that the government gets the politics right, as well as the policy. This will depend on three things.

First, the review must be impartial. Any future changes to regulation should be based on evidence, not vested interests. This means being aware of the impact of industry funding on the integrity of research, and avoiding the kind of misconception seen from the Association of British Bookmakers in its opposition to FOBT reform.

Second, there should be transparency between government officials and campaigners or lobbyists over how evidence is interpreted, as well as the mechanisms used to turn this into reform.

Too often mistakes have happened as a result of decisions being made behind the scenes. For example, in 2019 the biggest gambling operators committed to a 1% voluntary levy for addiction treatment, to be administered by an independent charity led by the Conservative peer Lord Chadlington. The culture secretary, Jeremy Wright, then rejected calls for a statutory levy, instead hailing the rapid expansion of treatment brought about by the deal yet just a year later, the gambling industry reneged on the arrangement and reallocated its funding elsewhere.

Third, gambling is a cross-department issue spanning not just the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, but also Health and Social Care, Education and the Treasury. It cannot be left to the self-determination of the sponsoring government department alone. Following criticism of DCMS as slow and weak by the Public Accounts Committee, many had hoped that the gambling review would be independent not just of the influence of vested interests but also of DCMS itself. This has not materialised, but it is essential that the reviews final recommendations are a result of collaboration across government departments, and that DCMS is not perceived as marking its own homework.

All this will require leadership and careful diplomacy. A sizeable constituency of MPs from across the parties is involved in the debate over gambling and will be watching the review with close interest. And in the House of Lords, a new group, Peers for Gambling Reform, counts more than 150 members.

These parliamentarians represent diverse political outlooks and allegiances. Yet all agree on the main priorities of the gambling review: the need for proper consumer protection through affordability checks, for stake limits on slots, changes to online casino content and game design, for the implementation of a statutory levy and the introduction of an independent gambling ombudsman.

Nobody wants to see a rerun of the adversarial debate over FOBTs, which arose from a combination of government oscillation and industry influence, culminating in the resignation of sports minister Tracey Crouch over a delay in implementing new rules on maximum stakes. With a genuine commitment to evidence, transparency and collaboration, this gambling review should be able to achieve what it must do: it can learn the mistakes of the past 15 years and create a genuinely robust system of gambling regulation in Britain that reforms the betting industry, and most importantly, prevents harm to people around the country.

James Noyes is a former adviser to Tom Watson and a fellow of the Social Market Foundation

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The UK's gambling review has to be free of industry influence and political dithering - The Guardian

The Daytona Beach Kennel Club says allowing the new gambling facility off I-95 in St. Johns County will cut into their earnings.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida The video above was published in 2019.

A planned gambling facility near St. Augustine is getting pushback from a rival to the south.

According to documents filed with state regulators, the new facility would be located at Interstate 95 and State Road 207 and would use a transferred gambling license from a now-defunct dog racing track in northern St. Johns County.

The new facility, which operates under the name St. Johns Greyhound Park, has won approval from the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

But the Daytona Beach Kennel Club last week filed a formal challenge of the permit, saying the new facility is located within 50 miles of its gambling operation and would, quote substantially deteriorate [the existing kennel clubs] revenue-producing capability.

The case is scheduled for a hearing in late January.

Florida voters to ban greyhound racing in 2018, but pari-mutuel facilities can still operate poker rooms and offer gambling on dog and horseraces elsewhere.

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Gambling facility planned near St. Augustine gets pushback from competitor to the south - FirstCoastNews.com WTLV-WJXX

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New Delhi: Alot of developments have taken place recently in the policy scenario for online games like fantasy sports, rummy and poker.

Last week, government think-tank NITI Aayog asked for comments on its publicly available draft guidelines for regulating fantasy sports at a national level.

On 20 November, Tamil Nadu banned online poker and rummy, but did not ban fantasy sports. Not too long before that, Andhra Pradeshbanned all online games involving stakes or wagering, including online poker, rummy, and fantasy sports.

The bans have made some stakeholders unhappy. The Online Rummy Federation (TORF), an industry body,said the Tamil Nadu ban was a very disappointing development. Meanwhile, some betting companies are challenging Andhra Pradeshs ban in the states high court.

Stakeholders in the video game industry raise a different issue they told ThePrint that laws and regulations for gambling should stop using the word gaming, because the fast-growing video game industry is very different to gambling games, which are largely illegal in India.

ThePrint takes a look at whether online games amount to gambling, the video game industrys objections to the use of the word gaming to describe gambling platforms, and the controversies arising from a lack of national-level regulations.

Also read: Asian tech giants are pouring money into Indias booming gaming-gambling apps

What is gambling in India? It depends on whom you ask, because there is no pan-India definition for gambling it is a state subject; i.e. each state may decide for itself what activities qualify for this term.

However,Jay Sayta, a lawyer specialising in policy and law for gambling says: Classically, gambling means staking something of value [such as real cash] on a game of chance for the possibility of winning something in return.

The definition of gaming too depends on whom you ask Sayta says lawmakers use the term interchangeably with gambling.

However, to the video gaming industry, the word gaming implies playing their video games, which is a fast-growing sector projected to reach revenues of$159.3 billionin 2020 alone. Video games dont involve gambling or chance.

Comparing video games like FIFA21, Clash Royale etc to Teen Patti, Poker etc. is hard to digest, said Lokesh Suji, director of the E-sports Federation of India (ESFI). E-sports are typically organised video game competitions where individuals play professionally.

Suji said the word gaming should be removed from the Public Gambling Act, 1867, to dissociate it from gambling, which is largely an illegal activity in India.

Its imperative that makers of policy and law should correct/amend the nomenclature in the the Public Gambling Act and the related state laws, he said.

When it comes to online gambling, only Sikkim has allowed it by passing a law limiting it to the intranet, so that the activity cannot cross state boundaries.

Nagaland has a law regulating and licencing some online games considered games of skill, such as poker, rummy, quizzes, bridge, and virtual games. However, it does not allow games the state recognises as online gambling/ betting.

Offline gambling is also regulated by state legislation. Goa and Sikkim allow gambling through licenced casinos at specific locations likeoffshore vessels on the river Mandovi and five-star category hotels. In addition, certain states exempt betting on horse racing.

However, gambling and betting, both online and offline, are largely prohibited in all states, Sayta added.

Also read: Fantasy sports like Dream11 are a good candidate for self-regulation

Most of the controversy around online gambling or gaming comes from a lack of national-level regulation. At present, each state can decide for itself what counts as online gambling and then decide to ban it like Tamil Nadu banned rummy and poker but not fantasy sports.

However, players on fantasy sports platforms like Dream11 sponsor of this years IPL as well as My11Circle and HalaPlay put real money into the game to stand a chance of winning real cash, which would qualify them as gambling.

Sayta says the Centre should step in and give some clarity on how to regulate the gaming sector, as games increasingly operate on the internet, which is regulated by the Centre.

Since it is difficult to regulate the internet at the state level with several inter-state trade and commerce aspects involved, ideally there should be an overarching framework or guidelines issued by the central government, Sayta said.

The central government should clearly define the parameters and contours of games of skill played for stakes, including guidelines on limits in stakes, prizes, advertising etc. and allow the activity, subject to tight regulations, he continued, adding that this will also enable policy certainty and stability for investors in this space.

On the video gaming industrys objections about being clubbed with gambling games, an India-based executive of a multinational gaming firm said generalising the entire industry (of gaming) is doing a disservice to it.

Manish Agarwal, CEO of Mumbai-based global gaming and sports media company Nazara Technologies Ltd added: When it comes to using terms like online gaming and online gambling and online real money gaming, there certainly needs to be more understanding among policymakers regulating it.

Nazara runs an e-sports unit called Nodwin Gaming, and Agarwal said he is part of gaming committees under business industry bodies FICCI and IAMAI. These committees work to increase awareness about the gaming industry among policymakers.

The gaming vertical can bring large revenue to the exchequer besides establishing the soft power of India globally by building global brands from India, he said.

Also read: Gaming could be good for well-being, over regulation restricts human rights Oxford study

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Online gaming or gambling? Why fantasy sports, rummy and poker are stuck in controversy - ThePrint

Everything is bigger in Texas, except for casinos, but that might change if billionaire gambling magnate Sheldon Adelson has his way.

The owner of the Las Vegas Sands is betting that Texas could be one of the biggest markets in the world for gambling if casinos are allowed to open in the Lone Star state, according to reports in The Texas Tribune and Houston Chronicle.

During the annual meeting of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, Andy Abboud, who represents Sands, spoke about how the casinos could be key economic drivers, but also limited to large cities and tourism destinations. Abboud was not proposing replicating Las Vegas in the state.

We should be very clear, Abboud said, according to The Texas Tribune. We will never pretend to say that we will solve all the economic problems of a state. We will help diversify an economy because of the wide range of taxes that we pay.

Texas has some of the strictest gambling laws in the nation, and gaming is limited to a few Native American casinos, the lottery, horse racing and bingo. How the state legislature and voters would react is uncertain, but Adelson donated more than $4 million to Republican candidates to keep the legislature with a GOP majority.

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Casinos could be a big thing in Texas if gambling magnate has his way - dailytimes.com

Celebrations look different this year as we make changes to keep our families and communities safe.

In addition to preventing illness, there are ways to help prevent loved ones from developing a gambling problem. Similar to substance use, gambling carries risk. Breaks from school and work provide opportunities to check in on your loved ones about their gambling activities and to talk with youth about the risks of gambling. A change in someones behavior or an increase in their gambling are both warning signs of problem gambling.

Gambling in youth is linked with other risks factors for youth. Oregon 11th graders that reported participating in gambling activities also had higher rates of skipping school, being in a physical fight, being sad for two or more weeks, and using alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs. Parents or caretakers talking about the risk of gambling with teens can increase their perception of risk and can reduce their risky behaviors.

For adults that choose to gamble, you can reduce your risk of developing a gambling problem by using the following guidelines:

Dont gamble on credit or borrowed money

Dont gamble to win back lost money (also known as chasing losses)

Dont gamble to cope with negative feeling or to escape

Dont let gambling be your only social or recreational activity

Dont let youth gamble

Seek help if gambling becomes a problem for you or a loved one

In Oregon, problem gambling treatment is free and confidential. Treatment and support are available to anyone with a gambling disorder and anyone affected by someones gambling. For support and resources call or visit:

The Lincoln County Problem Gambling Treatment Program (541) 265-4196 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Oregon Problem Gambling Resource at 1-877-My-Limit or OPGR.org (available 24 hours a day)

Lincoln County Public Health, in collaboration with our community partners, provides leadership to assure the conditions for healthy communities.

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Preventing problem gambling this holiday season | Community - Coos Bay World

Instead of staying home during the circuit breaker period, a 24-year-old man went to an illegal gambling den.

Yesterday, Phil Ng Wei Long was fined $3,000 after he pleaded guilty to one count of leaving his home without a reasonable excuse.

On May 26, Ng left his home around 8pm and went to an illegal gambling den in Geylang to lend his friend some money.

Police officers had received a tip-off on the illegal gambling den and conducted a raid that evening.

A total of 20 people, including Ng, were detained. A table was found with a gambling mat, gambling-related paraphernalia such as playing chips and dices, and cash amounting to more than $1,600 on it.

The group had been playing a game of "See Goh Lak", also known as "456".

Deputy Public Prosecutor Chee Ee Ling said: "In total, from the time the accused left his residence to the time he was arrested, he had left his ordinary place of residence for close to one hour and 25 minutes."

She asked for a fine of $3,000, stating that Ng had been in an enclosed space with a number of people.

She added that Ng's culpability is moderate because he did not have any extenuating reason to commit the breach, and had gone out simply to loan his friend $1,000.

Three others out of the accused persons were also fined $3,000 each. The cases for the rest are pending.

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Man fined after he went to gambling den during circuit breaker - The New Paper