Gambling and Drinking:

by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker

February 13, 2006

What is gambling? 

Gambling is also known as betting that is any behavior involving risking money or valuables making a wager or placing a stake on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event in which the outcome of that activity depends partially or totally upon chance or upon one's ability to do something. In short it is unlawful engaging in playing, operating, or assisting in operating a game of chance for money or some other stake. 

What happens if gambling and drinking are done together?

Gambling and drinking is a bad bet and according to a group of new studies it indicates that that gamblers take greater risks and play longer when they are drinking, especially those with gambling problems. Also gambling addicts say that they think of alcohol when they are winning and they are better able to recover from that addiction when they also tackle their alcoholism.

The findings that was published in the February issue of Alcoholism that is Clinical and Experimental Research, are striking in light of the fact that about half of casinos serve free drinks and at the same time 82 percent of Americans participated in some form of gambling in 2002, up from 61 percent in 1975, according to another study in the current issue of the Journal of Gambling Studies.

Now-a-days casino executives take seriously the responsibility that comes with serving alcohol and most of the casino employees are trained to deal with drunken patrons, cutting off their drinking and gambling privileges and preventing them from driving.

Now in Atlantic City, underage gambling and drinking will be the target of stepped up undercover and surveillance initiatives in casinos as well as underage drinking and gambling are disorderly persons' offenses punishable by up to six months in jail and fines up to $1,000. However casinos face civil penalties for failing to enforce underage gambling and drinking and also underage people caught gaming or drinking alcohol will have to take responsibility for their actions, and their casino licensees will be called to task if they have not taken proper measures to assure that patrons are legally old enough to participate.

How is it affected?

Since gambling includes all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits and the essential features of gambling are increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, chasing losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences. While in extreme cases, problem gambling can result in financial ruin, legal problems, loss of career and family, or even suicide and these effects the family members, children, close friends, your job and also ruins your life.

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