Problem gambling can destroy your relationships; interfere with responsibilities at home and work, even lead to financial catastrophe. What is the problem of gambling addiction? Gambling addiction is defined as compulsive gambling (a type of impulse-control disorder). Compulsive gamblers can’t control the wish to gamble, it is all they can think about and all they want to do. Specialists say gambling addiction may change a personality beyond recognition.

Some people think a person gambling everyday is a problem gambler. In fact it doesn’t matter at all, you may gamble oftentimes or of rare occurrence. Gambling is a problem, if it causes problems. Gambling addiction is also a problem even if you can afford it, because this problem is not just financial. You may destroy your relationship or friendships by gambling.

The main symptoms of the gambling addiction:

– You feel the need to keep secret about your gambling. You may sweep under the carpet even long before yourself. You might delude yourself that you gamble in secret or lie about it, because you are incomprehensible to your relatives. You may also flatter yourself you will surprise them with a big win.

– Have difficulties with controlling your gambling. Can you walk away or interrupt your gambling if you have already started it? Can you stop before you play away your last dollar?

– Are you ready to play away your grub-stake (even that, have been kept to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children)?

– Family and friends are anxious about you.

People with gambling addiction usually think there is no problem and they can give up at any moment. They suggest that not gambling but money squeeze is the real problem. They prefer to learn how to manage their gambling without stopping and in many cases can’t imagine their life without gambling.

Gambling addiction therapy focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and erroneous beliefs. But you should first grasp the importance of the treatment and the necessity to get rid of the problem.

If you’d better try to overcome for your problem yourself, here is some advices:

– Do something else;
– Focus on another activity (go shopping, swim, make something delicious, play paintball at long last);
– Bring yourself to wait five minutes, ten minutes, or an hour if you want to gamble, your wish will grow weak;
– Imagine first your future experience, how you’ll feel after all your money is lost;
– Find a supporting force (you close friend or partner).

When you first heard about internet gambling, you might have been surprised by the fact that it was allowed to happen. When live gambling in casinos is so heavily regulated, how could internet gambling be legal? And even if the law allows gambling, statistics would have to show that only fools would play, right?

Forget the hype, but know the facts.

Online Gambling – Is it Legal?

The answer to this question? It depends. There are two major federal laws related to internet gambling:

The Interstate Wire Act of 1961
The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006

The first law made it illegal to use wire communication for gambling purposes. But, in 1961, lawmakers couldn’t have envisioned the internet. So although the internet does uses ‘wires,’ the exact meaning of the term allowed for too many loopholes.

So, in 2006, the second law was passed. It focuses on the online gambling company rather than the gambler. It is a felony for any company to accept any money related to online gambling. This is why the companies you can gamble with online are located outside of the US where it is difficult prosecute. But, the government also expects US Banks to stop money from going to these online companies. Because of this, you might eventually have trouble paying for online gambling with your US bank account or credit card. However, it is not a problem at the moment.

So while the federal government won’t come after internet gamblers, they could still be breaking the law. The UIGEA leaves it up to the states to determine whether or not internet gambling violates their state’s laws. Experts believe that any law states might pass would make it a misdemeanor to gamble online rather than a felony. And again, there is no expectation that states would pursue the gambler rather than the gambling company. But if you have any concerns, you should check with your state’s gaming commission to understand whether or not you are violating any state laws.

Basic Online Gambling Facts

There are several different types of online casinos, and we can only expect for them to get more elaborate as online gambling evolves. Today, the three main ones are:

Web-based Casinos – these casinos allow you to play without downloading software and the possible pop-ups or spyware that may come with it. These casinos will require that you have a higher speed internet connection than the other types, since you’ll be transferring the games and graphics across the web as you play.
Download-based Casinos – these sites require that you load their software onto your computer before you can gamble or play the games. These are generally faster, making them popular with players. Of course, you have to go through the initial set-up process, and you are risking the possibility of downloading software from an ‘unknown’ source – which always includes the chance that you could get a virus as well.
Live-based Casinos – here, you are actually playing in a ‘live’ or ‘chat’ environment. Today there are even webcam-based casinos where you can watch a live dealer and even other players. This is as close to a walk-in casino as you can get on the internet.

Safety is probably the largest concern that online gamblers have, but when it comes to gambling, statistics show that trust in the industry continues to increase. This is evident in the increase in the number of players and funds invested between 2000 and 2006. It is estimated that the industry grew from about $10 billion to more than $14 billion in just these six years. You can gamble online safely if you take the time to investigate your options. Before you invest your money in playing, check ecogra.org, an independent, nonprofit agency that rates and approves online gaming sites.

There are a lot of important reasons to recognize the state of online gambling in the world. Similarly, it can consume you plenty of time and money, for you will have to do an exhaustive inquiry about the topic. Knowing the advantages will differ from reason to reason, because it relies on your main objective. It is capable, for instance, of updating you on the latest about gambling, but your country not included. It is also capable, depending on the country’s pro or con provisions, in updating you where you can run into more gamblers. It is essential for you to know what’s new about the online gambling world, if you are declaring yourself to be a real online gambler.

General View of the Online Gambling World

The UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act), which is currently perhaps the worst and most glaring issue, will catch your attention when viewing the online gambling world in general. The issue really only pertains directly to the US. On the other hand, this act extends its fangs as well to the international community. Basically, UIGEA makes hard the task of transferring money to gambling sites through certain banking options. It has been valid, even though in a very unclear and ineffective way, as of 2007.

What’s the result? The closing down of online gambling sites since the stock market investments’ drastic reduction, the prohibition of a large number of players (particularly in the US) to play in online gambling sites, and having lesser places to gamble in for players in various countries. The effect of UIGEA, is seemingly, far beyond of certain US players being banned on online gambling. The community has also been affected by it in general and several sites has ended.

Specifying the Online Gambling World

You are most likely wondering what’s going-on in some countries, after a having an idea of what exactly is going on in the online gambling world. To make matters clear, the UIGEA has not stopped US players from gambling online. Truly, persistent activity exists since several US states do not prohibit people from it.

To make up for the strict measures employed by countries like the US are places that even encourage and use it as a shooting point for its prosperity. These places include Barbuda and Antigua, both in Caribbean. Online gambling has been booming on both places, for a long time already. In fact, there are many online casinos that have been licensed in Caribbean. This is because of their breezy transactions and low taxes.

Online gambling is not prohibited in several other countries along with Antigua and Barbuda. The following countries which allow this form of gambling are South Korea, Germany, Australia, and several other countries. Maybe they know its inherent potential to enhance the welfare of their countries.

Future of Online Gambling

A lot of debates about the stability of the industry have been created. The proof, nevertheless, of what is real and true already emphasizes it. In spite of the few obstructions it is now undergoing, online gambling will surely prosper and thrive. Should it come out of these trials, it will be an even stronger and more lucrative industry.