Gambling: pleasure or addiction

Gambling has long been a pass time for people around the world. Many people use gambling as a way to relax and enjoy the company of friends. However, some people who gamble become addicted to this activity. Such an addiction can lead to high levels of debt and can lead people to spend a significant amount of time gambling which can have a negative effect on their personal relationships. There has long been a debate concerning whether or not gambling is for pleasure or whether or not it is an addiction. The purpose of this discussion is to determine whether gambling is an activity engaged in for pleasure or an addiction. The research will also share some recommendation as it pertains to how to deal with the issue of gambling.

Pleasure vs. Addiction

Pleasure and addiction are two terms that are often correlated with one another because certain activities can be both pleasurable and addictive. Gambling is one of the activities that can be associated with both pleasure and addiction. According to Esch & Stefano (2004) "Pleasure, describes a 'state or feeling of happiness or sat-isfaction resulting from an experience that one enjoys'. Pleasure is a subjective phenomenon, i.e., subjec-tive quality. Hence, an intimate association between reward and pleasure exists. In neurobiology, pleasure is a competence or function of the reward and motivation circuitries that are imbedded in the central nervous system (CNS). Anatomically, these reward pathways are particularly linked to the brain's limbic system (Esch & Stefano 2004, 236)." These authors insist that pleasure actually has a foundation in the central nervous system and it is caused by a real reaction between the experience and the way the body reacts to that experience.

The author also explains that the concept of pleasure is also influenced by motivation. The authors contend that motivation is generally characterized in two ways. These two ways are described as ap-petitive and aversive motivation (Esch & Stefano 2004). According to the authors appetitive motiva-tion involves behavior associated with goals that are usually associated with pleasurable, processes such as eating, sex and recreational drugs (Esch & Stefano 2004). On the other hand, aversive motivation is associated with escaping hedonically unpleasant experiences (Esch & Stefano 2004). With these things understood, the authors explains that there are two characteristics that govern motivation which are pleasure and pain. Additionally, "It has been suggested that pleasure may be associated with beneception, events that facili-tate survival and thus 'benefit' the organism or species from an evolutionary biology perspective. Pain, on the other hand, is associated with nociception. This lat-ter term basically describes conditions that may have undesirable biological consequences for an organism. However, the illustrated division of pleasure and pain in reference to their possible biological functions and outcome should not lead to an incorrect under-standing, since both conditions -- in specific situations -- may have the capacity to serve survival and 'amuse-ment' likewise. Thus, pain and pleasure potentially merge into another. With regard to specialized brain compartments involved in motivational processes, the physiological substrate for appetitive or aversive mo-tivation (as for reward and avoidance) primarily lies within the limbic system (Esch & Stefano 2004)."

According to a book entitled Women, Pleasure and the Gambling Experience women in the UK are particularly vulnerable to gambling for pleasure. According to the book the creation of the national lottery in the UK has encouraged more women to gamble. The author explains that for many years there was a certain mysticism that surrounded the playing of the lottery (Casey, 2008). Now that the playing of the lottery is seen as a socially acceptable activity, women who never gambled before are now gambling for pleasure. Indeed people in various countries around the world play the lottery consistently. Many of these individuals will not engage in any other form of gambling but often feel compelled to play the lottery.

The playing of the lottery seems to be one of the most prevalent gambling addictions. This comes as no surprise as lottery tickets are available at most stores and some state lotteries even allow people to purchase lottery ticket packages on the internet. This means that the playing of the lottery is one of the most accessible forms of gambling. Additionally lottery jackpots can reach 100's of millions of dollars which means the return can be significant as it pertains to the reward that is realized. The playing of the lottery can also be propelled by the state of the economy. For instance in times of recession or economic difficulty some people are more likely to play the lottery. With these things understood, the playing of the lottery becomes a pleasurable experience that can lead to an addiction.

According to Goodman (1990) there is a formal and informal definition of addiction. The formal definition of addiction asserts that it is "a process whereby a behavior, that can function both to produce pleasure and to provide relief from internal discomfort, is employed in a pattern characterized by (1) recurrent failure to control the behavior (powerlessness) and (2) continuation of the behavior despite significant negative consequences (unmanageability). (Goodman 1990, 1404)."

The author also explains that a formal definition for addiction also exists. This formal definition is inclusive of several parts. These parts are as follows:

A. Repeated inability to resist impulses to participate in a particular behavior (Goodman 1990.

B. Rising feeling of tension immediately before engaging in the behavior (Goodman 1990.

C. Pleasure or release when engaging in the behavior (Goodman 1990.

D.A loss of control while participating in the behavior (Goodman 1990).

E. Exhibits a minimum of five of the following:

(1) Repeated fixation with the behavior or with actions that occur before engaging in the behavior (Goodman 1990)

(2) Recurrent participation in the behavior to a greater extent or over a longer period than intended (Goodman 1990)

(3) Constant attempts to decrease, control or stop the behavior (Goodman 1990)

(4) a significant amount of time spent engaging in activities needed for carrying out the behavior, participating in the behavior or recovering from the impacts of the behavior (Goodman 1990)

(5) Engaging in the behavior when expected to complete work, academic, domestic or social commitments (Goodman 1990)

(6) Significant social, occupational or recreational activities abandoned or decreased as a result of the behavior (Goodman 1990)

(7) Persistence of the behavior "despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent social, financial, psychological or physical problem that is caused or exacerbated by the behavior (Goodman 1990)."

(8) Symptoms of tolerance: this is associated with the neccesity to increase the intensity or frequency of the behavior in order to achieve the desired effect or diminished effect with continued behavior of the same intensity (Goodman 1990)

(9) Irritability occurs when not capable of participating in the behavior (Goodman 1990)

(F) Symptoms of the disturbance have continued for a minimum of one month, or have occurred continuously over a period of time that goes beyond one month (Goodman 1990).

As it pertains specifically to gambling addiction an article entitled "Compulsive Gambling Addiction and Treatment" explains that there are "Three major phases of compulsive gambling include ecstasy when winning, severe tension when losing and extremes of anxiety in between these two phases ("Compulsive Gambling Addiction and Treatment")."

Addiction tends to effect "People with low incomes, those with comorbidities such as drug or alcohol addiction or mental health problems, children and adolescents, and a growing number of women are all at high risk of developing gambling addictions, Professor Griffiths said. This is partly because gambling was partly destigmatised when the National Lottery was introduced in 1994. But interactive technologies, which allow gambling through mobile phones, televisions, and the internet, have also allowed greater and easier access to gambling (Tanne 2007, 117)."

It many instances there is a fine line between pleasure and addiction. Some people become addicted to the pleasure of the experience. That is, some individuals love the feeling of the pleasure that they experience when engaging in certain activities. This pleasure serves as the reward for engaging in the activity.

Gambling as an Addiction

Gambling addiction has received a great deal of attention in recent years because of the increase in the number of people that have been affect by the problem. The increase in the number of gambling addicts is due in part to the increased availability of gambling through the internet and other mediums. Cosgrave (2010) further explains that, "The rapid expansion of gambling enterprises in North America in the last four decades, particularly the spread of casinos, forms of elec-tronic gambling, and Internet gambling since the early 1990s, points to significant developments in consumption activity, and to issues related to the state legitimation of an activity that was previously (officially) deemed problematic for society, and which, in some of its forms, holds certain risks for participants (Cosgrave (2010)." In this exert the author points out that the opportunities to gamble have grown tremendously in recent years. As such people have engaged in gambling activities at an increased rate.

The authors also point out that certain gambling activities such as the lottery are sanctioned by state governments and encouraged. As such the stigma that once existed concerning gambling no longer exists. People are therefore more likely to engage in gambling activities and more likely to develop an addiction to gambling. The author further explains that even though there are still social conflicts concerning the implementation and expansion of certain types of gambling such as, video lottery, terminals gambling has become a largely accepted practice (Cosgrave (2010). In addition, gambling is an activity that is mass-marketed by private gambling companies and states as type of leisure activity (Cosgrave (2010). This mass-marketing of gambling sends a message to consumers that gambling is an activity that is accepted and even expected in that particular community. As such people are more likely to participate in such and activity and less likely to feel guilty as a result of such participation.

Cosgrave (2010) further explains that gambling addictions have a great deal to do with consumption and risk. The author explains that legal gambling is a type of consumption in which individuals engaging in the activity are usually motivated by feelings of desire, leisure and pleasure. The author also explains that in classic sociology, the concept of production has been replaced with an emphasis on consumption for attempting to understand the social structure and culture of modern societies. In addition those who have examined modern society have provided formulations of risk to provide a greater understanding of modern social structure.

The author further explains that contrary to the earlier macro formulations developed to describe the risk society, current micro accounts of risk provide investigation of the risk-tak-ing process. This current examination concludes that risk society is an activity that is desirable for the individual engaging in the activity. These risks are described as edge work, safe risk and cultivated risk. The author explains that although risk-taking products are currently available in tourism and leisure markets, analysts believe that the quest of chasing risk is an articulation of social transformation and changing social structure (Gephart 2001; Hannigan 1998, Cosgrave 2010). In addition, Gephart (2001), asserts that "safe risk" serves as a "founda-tional organizational feature of contemporary spectacular society," while Lyng (2005:8) suggests that risk-taking is a "structural principle" of ac-tor and institutional orientations in "risk societies (Gephart 2001, 141)." The author further explains that

"The legalization and expansion of gambling has liberalized a form of risk-taking that was previously held (at least officially) to be problematic for society. In a liberalized environment, indeed within a larger cultural milieu where consumption is central to social organization, participation in risky practices and the consumption of risk products is not so much the issue, but excessive or unsafe involvement entails certain kinds of stigmatization, such as the label of addiction (Cosgrave 2010, 116). "

In this passage the author is explaining that the prevalence of gambling through the legalization of the activity has led to the development of a social norm out of an activity that was once seen as wrong or against the moral code of the same society in which it is now prevalent. This prevalence has caused people within the society to take risks in an activity that was previously forbidden. These risks are not necessarily detrimental. However, when these activities are partaken of in ways that are excessive, addictions can form.

The author also explains that casinos are places that provide consumers with spending experience. Because casinos provide consumers with oppor-tunities for both pleasure and expenditure, their growth in the current legalized gambling environment reflects the transformation of several social norms including cultural values, economic ethics, and social development in the change from industrial to postindustrial consumer citizenries (Cosgrave and Klassen 2001; Miller 1995; Tucker 1991; Cosgrave, 2010).

In other words the legalization of casinos and other forms of gambling has forever changed society. This means that the things that were once shunned, such as gambling, are now viewed as acceptable as a result in changes in economic ethics, cultural values and changes from industrial to postindustrial consumer citizenries. As it pertains to economic ethics, there was a time when state and local governments felt is was beneath them to accept revenues from the practice of gambling. This economic ethic is still part of the landscape of many state and locales. However, in some places that did not allow gambling for many years, there has been in recent years the adoption of legalized gambling for the purposes of receiving tax revenues that are desperately needed. Cultural values have also changed a great deal and led to the development of social practices that were once despised. For instance, as it related to many aspects of society, certain religious beliefs such as Christianity dictated the activities that were deemed to be socially acceptable. This shift in cultural belief came as a result of living in a world that is more culturally diverse. In addition the development and widespread use of the internet has forever changed the manner in which people interact with one another.

It is in relation to the development of socialization processes in the shift from industrial to postindustrial consumer societies that orientations to risk and risk-taking require consideration. The author asserts that "While the analytical status of risk in rationalized and commercialized gambling venues is subject to debate (Lyng 2005), the consumption of risk is what attracts gamblers. In its mass-marketed expressions, gambling is advertised as a form of "entertainment" and ca-sinos are represented as sites for the consumption of "excitement" (e.g., the slogan for Ontario's Casino Rama, run by the Rama Indian Band is "We deal Excitement Big Time!") (Cosgrave 2010, 116)."

The author further asserts that in situations in which the consumption of risk is provoked by the positive aspects of risk-taking such as the joys of sky-diving, the excitement of gambling, the highs of drug-taking -- risky consumption involves consumption with negative or unattractive risks. The author explains that it is not typically the desire of Gamblers to be addicts. Additionally, sky-divers want to master the intricacies of their activity and escape death, and drug users don't have a desire to overdose (Lyng 2005; Reith 2005; Cosgrave 2010).

The author further explains that the consumption of risk present in gambling, or in other types of edgework, is now an important aspect and driver of con-sumer markets (Cosgrave, 2010). However, consumers are given warnings by those who provide gambling services and by public health agencies that participating in gambling should not become risky or a potentially dangerous expenditure for them (Cosgrave, 2010). Those participating in gambling activities are presented with the message of responsible consumption, which serves as a blueprint for behavior (Lyng 2005; Cosgrave, 2010).

Additionally the author points out that legalized commercial gambling enterprises thoroughly advertise the consumption of risks as a form of entertainment (Cosgrave, 2010). In doing this the manner in which gambling can become a risky consumption is often overlooked (Cosgrave, 2010). The author also explains that "The development of gambling markets requires the stimulation of con-sumption (of risks) as well as the stimulation of knowledge generated to manage the unwanted risks of excessive consumption. This dynamic of knowledge generation contributes to institutional development, raising significant problems for gambling providers and revenue beneficiaries, particularly when gambling markets are stimulated by state-owned gam-bling enterprises (Cosgrave, 2010)."

In addition to all of the other issues discussed that lead to gambling addiction, the advent of internet ambling has played a key role in the development of gambling addiction amongst young people. According to Wong (2010) the first internet site devoted to gambling appeared in 1995. At the current time there are more than 2,000 gambling sites on the internet that compete with one other (American Gaming Association, 2009; Wong 2010). The author further explains that as the number of sites continues to grow throughout the globe, the potential for developing online gambling addictions among adolescents will also grow (Wong 2010). The author also explains that,

"Students are particularly vulnerable to online gambling because they are frequent Internet users who may be attracted by the pop up gambling advertisements, provisionmof trial sites, souvenirs, and the colorful graphics and photos presented with the games (Derevensky & Gupta, 2007). Internet gambling could be more psychologically enticing than traditional gambling owing to increased accessibility, anonymity, and interactivity (Wong, 2010, 365-366)."

Is Gambling pleasure or Addiction

Indeed pleasure and addiction are linked to one another as it pertains to human emotion and human behavior. The research thus far has uncovered that pleasure is actually a physiological phenomenon that occurs in the nervous system. Pleasure can give people a sense of euphoria and peace. As such activities, such as gambling that bring about pleasure must be indulged in with care and concern. Once an individual experiences the pleasure associated with gambling a chemical reaction can occur and they will continue to seek this pleasure even when doing so effects their relationships and their finances. People who engage in gambling activities and those that encourage such activities out to take into consideration that very real biological reactions that can occur as a result of gambling. Once this physiological interaction is understood the proper precautions can be taken to ensure that the past time of gambling does not become an addiction.

Given the information that has been uncovered in the preceding section of this discussion, when a person starts to gamble the act is done for pleasure. However, over time the pleasure and the rewards associated with the activity can become addictive. That is an individual who goes to the casino for the first time when they are 25 years old and gambles does not intend to become a gambling addict. This individual may believe that they are just going to have some fun and that they will be able to stop when they want to stop. However, if this person wins a great deal of money the first time they gamble, they begin to associated the pleasure of winning money with the act of gambling and an addiction to the activitiy can develop.

The research also indicates that some people have a predisposition for acquiring any type of addiction. That is, people who have family members who are addicts are more likely to develop addiction than are people who do not have family members who are addicts. This means that some people can gamble solely for pleasure and not become addicted to the activity. These individuals can go to a casino and gamble and not have a compelling need to ever gamble again. People who can engage in a pleasurable activity and not become addicted to that activity will not be negatively affected by gambling. However, those that have an aforementioned predisposition for addiction will be greatly impacted by exposure to gambling.

The investigation also explored the idea that the society in which we live has made gambling acceptable through the creation of the lottery, internet gambling, casinos and so on. In addition gambling is often glorified and encouraged in the media and people are not exposed to the consequences associated with becoming addicted to gambling. That is, the amount of advertisements and media exposure given to gambling as a fun past time is greater than the number of public service announcements that warn people concerning the dangers of becoming addicted to gambling. The presence of these gambling attractions has normalized an activity that was once shunned. In other words, our society has embraced gambling as an acceptable form of entertainment that adults should feel free to engage in. Indeed there are some states whose economies are wholly dependent upon legalized gambling. However, there are many people for whom this form of entertainment has ruined their lives that the lives of the people around them.

Consumption and risk are also issues that arose in the discussion about gambling as pleasure or addiction. The research indicates that the greater consumption of gambling activities increases the risk that people will become addicted to the activity. That is, the more individuals participate in the activity, the greater the likelihood that people will take risk and become addicted to the activity in the process. With this understood, reducing gambling consumption may prove beneficial in reducing the number of people who become addicted to gambling.

Internet gambling serves as a significant problem all by itself in the realm of gambling. The research indicates that young people are particularly vulnerable to becoming addicted to gambling via the internet. This vulnerability lies in the fact that young people are internet savvy, have access to and spend a great deal of time on devices that are connected to the internet. Young people are also curious and as such they are more likely to go on to gambling websites and begin to engage in gambling activities. Because access to the internet is so readily available people have the ability to gamble all day and all night and never leave their homes. This isolation is dangerous because it allows people to form a habit and hide the habit. It is also detrimental as it relates to the amount of money that people wager because everything is done electronically and people have a decreased concept of just how much money they are spending. In addition the addiction can become severe in a quicker period of time and in some cases it is harder to treat because people with an electronic gambling addiction are likely to also have an addiction to the internet. So treatment must involve both addictions.

Overall the research indicates that gambling can very easily become an addiction because of the pleasure that people experience from winning. The research also indicates that the winning of money serves as a reward that seems to outweigh the consequences of loosing. That is, people are so addicted to the pleasure derived from acquiring the reward that the consequences that occur from not receiving the reward are not enough to make the person stop quitting. This need to gamble persist even when people are in deep financial debt, having a family crisis or may be subject to bodily harm as a result of a gambling debt. With these things understood, the research seems to make clear the idea that gambling almost always starts off as a pleasurable experience, but for some people this experience plays a role in them becoming addicts.