Gamblers are thrill-seekers. Research and surveys indicate people gamble because they’re looking for excitement, enjoyment and a challenge, while winning money is often a secondary motivating factor.
The statistical fact that the odds always favor the house is universally accepted, but gamblers believe their judgment or luck will intervene on their behalf.
Research conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) shows that attitudes about risk are shaped by winning and losing. For gambling this means the greater the loss, the more prepared a gambler is to lose again because subsequent losses don’t hurt as much psychologically.
Gamblers usually have an illusion of control over the outcomes and probability of personal success, or a generalized belief that over time, chance-determined results will even out, according to the APA.
Another common trait among gamblers is a tendency to overestimate the likelihood of winning. The APA notes that this characteristic is most accentuated when someone focuses on a single gambling interest, such as betting on a favorite sports team or a blackjack game.
For some, gambling becomes a problem. An estimated 2% of gamblers grow pathologically addicted to gambling to escape or cope with loneliness, depression or other personal issues.
Nine out of 10 gambling addicts are men; 96% of them begin gambling before age 14; and 17% attempt suicide, according to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, Atlantic City.
– Casino gambling (non-tribal and non-riverboat) ranks second only to state lotteries as the most popular form of gambling. Next in popularity are sports betting pools, casino gambling on Indian reservations, bingo, gambling on riverboats, video-slot machines in bars, horse race wagering and legal sports betting.
– Between 50% to 60% of adults play state lotteries, forking over more than $29 billion annually on tickets. An average player spends about $100 a year. Lotteries are favored most in New York, Texas, Massachusetts, California, Florida and Ohio. Most players are middle-aged, low income earners and minorities.
– Single, divorced and separated people gamble more than married people, particularly men living in large cities who drink alcohol.
– Men reportedly gamble more and have more varied gambling interests than women. Men favor lotteries and gambling on games such as blackjack or sports, while women prefer bingo and raffles.
– Americans make 161 million visits annually to 450 casinos in 27 states.
– Casino patrons spend about $20 billion annually gambling. About 86% of Americans gambled in casinos at least once in their lives, while 68% gambled in casinos at least once within the past year.
– An average casino patron goes about six times a year. Residents of the North-Central states make up 30% of all casino visitors. Among Southerners, 34% believe casino gambling is morally wrong and unacceptable for anyone.
– About 38% of gamblers visit casinos with their spouses and 30% go with friends, while only 7% go alone. Others travel to casinos with organized groups or various family members.
– The median age of a casino gambler is 47; median household income is $46,000. About 45% have white-collar jobs and 54% attended college.
Network
