Human beings are motivated to take risks because of their desire for a reward. Some make significant and costly risks, while others take simple ones. There is no problem when you venture into a risky affair because that’s human nature. Besides, people who don’t take risks may not easily succeed in their life.
Many big businesses that you see around started when a specific individual or a group decided to risk their money. However, such a company had a clear strategy on how to mitigate risks during their activities. Risk-taking is part of the entrepreneurial spirit that resides in human beings.
The question that you may ask yourself is whether risk-taking can be addictive and lead to adverse outcomes. Yes, there are specific risk-taking activities that may be addictive if you don’t exercise control. For instance, although some people enjoy gambling, it may lead to addiction if it isn’t done with caution. Keep reading to find out interesting addictive gambling stats in some countries and why betting may lead to addiction.
People Prone to Betting Addiction Problems
The WHO has identified extreme betting as a serious problem. Although people enjoy placing a wager occasionally, some indulge in the behavior to the extent that it disrupts their lives. The stats of the gambling problem differ from one country or region to the other.
Gambling problem in the UK
In the UK, the Gambling Commission estimated in 2016, that there were 340,000 problem gamblers. The problem players suffer from betting addiction. People may indulge in too much gambling behavior due to economic challenges. Furthermore, online casinos have increased, and accessing them is pretty much more straightforward.
You can presently gamble on multiple online casinos on 24/7. According to the Gambling Commission, gamblers are spending over £7 billion annually in betting. However, in 2019, bettors in the UK lost approximately £14.4bn in gambling.
The NHS indicates that despite the gambling problem’s adverse effects, few people seek medical attention. NHS further observes that only 5 percent of addictive bettors come forward for treatment. This means that 95 percent of people are left untreated. If people are left untreated, they may try to stop Gamstop (self-exclusion scheme for British players) and plunge themselves into debts that may depress them in the long run. Depressed individuals may not be productive in whatever they’re doing.
Gambling problem in Finland
The gambling addiction problem is adversely affecting some Finnish individuals. According to Peluuri Reports, a population of 110,000 Finnish individuals is suffering from gambling addiction. The report shows that the problem is more rampant in men than in women. Whereas men represent 4.7 percent of the addictive gambling cases, women represent 1.6 percent of addictive cases.
The government has initiated various policies to reduce the problem of addiction gambling in the country. For instance, the Finnish government merged three government-operated gambling operators into a single company. However, the measures haven’t toned down the problem.
Although Fintoto, Ray, and Veikkaus betting companies merged, the social-cultural environment that fuels betting hasn’t changed. The single entity that represents the three betting companies still uses specific tactics like advertising that fuel gambling.
Gambling problem in Italy
Gambling addiction problem is increasing in Italy. Whereas the number of people with gambling problems was 100,000 in 2007, as of 2017, the figure jumped to 400000. Although the number of teenage gambling has decreased, more adults are still gambling. In terms of risk distribution, stats indicate that 76.5 percent of gamblers are risk-free. However, 8.3 percent of players are exposed to either medium or high betting risks.
Each year Italians spend around 80000 euros in betting activities. Further stats indicate that over half a million people with gambling problems have sought medical attention in public health clinics. The disturbing stats put Italy in the list of world countries that experience gambling problems.
Most of the problem gamblers are retired people, homemakers, and people without jobs. These groups turn to gambling to help alleviate their emotional problems.
Gambling problem in Australia
In 2016, each Australian lost approximately $990. In the 2013-14 period, the total gambling expenditure was $21.2, which increased to $23 in 2015.
The problem of gambling in Australia affects 200,000 people. The issue of gambling affects senior men compared to women. Due to gambling depression, more than 400 Australians take their lives yearly.
