What is gambling?
The definition of gambling is to play a game that you pay to participate in, the outcome of which is largely, or even entirely, down to chance.
This includes, for example, lotteries, scratch cards and roulette.Many games of chance can be played both online and on site, such as sports betting, slot machines, roulette or poker.The following games are particularly addictive:
[spoiler title=’Fruit machines’ style=’default’ collapse_link=’true’]
- On most of these machines, the aim is to get 3 identical symbols.
- The stop button gives the player the impression that they are in control of the game
- However, the outcome of these games is entirely down to chance
- The game happens very quickly and only lasts for a few seconds
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[spoiler title=’Betting on sport’ style=’default’ collapse_link=’true’]
- The purpose of this is to place bets on game results, for example, football results.
- Bets can be placed on the outcome of the game and also on events, such as the number of yellow cards handed out during a game.
- In what is known as ‘live betting’, bets can be placed on various events even during a game.
- Lots of players find live betting particularly appealing as it is faster, which they find more exciting.
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[spoiler title=’Poker’ style=’default’ collapse_link=’true’]
- The aim is to use your cards to beat other players, either by having the best cards or by bluffing.
- In poker, bluffing means pretending to have good cards. If the other players believe you, then you can get ahead in the game.
- In the past few years, poker has become more popular as a result of a number of TV shows featuring celebrities such as Stefan Raab or Boris Becker.
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Gambling addiction is a recognised medical condition
At least four of the following must apply within a 12-month period
- Thoughts centre around gambling
- Increasingly high sums are being gambled
- Multiple attempts to stop gambling have failed
- These attempts made the affected person anxious and irritable
- The affected person gambles particularly often during difficult times in their life
- The affected person tries to win back the money they have lost by gambling again
- The affected person lies to colleagues, friends or family members to hide their gambling problem or get more money.
- Important social connections are put at risk
- The affected person constantly hopes to get more money from people they know or from family members