Online Gambling - What is the Attraction?

Have you ever sat back and seriously asked yourself ‘what is it that attracts you to gambling’?

• Thrill
• Excitement
• Risk
• Winning
• Boredom
• Escapism
• Depression
• Financial Solution

What might the outcomes of gambling be?

• Regret
• Happiness
• Loss
• Wins
• Elation
• Depression
• Suicidal
• Financial Hardship

Do you know when to stop, what stops you stopping? There is a plethora of questions to consider and sometimes we have to step away and ask them.

What concerns you most about gambling?

Since I don't play in a casino I don't know if my opinion would be that relevant but if it were up to me why I would play occasionally would be the thrill and excitement. Of course I would be extremely careful because gambling can fall into addiction, so it's a very fine line.

Anyway, what is your view and opinion on what you wrote ? What is the attraction for you to play ? 

Appreciate your feedback. I seldom play now as I find my addictive personality pushes me toward any casino, even unscrupulous ones.

To name but a few, the attraction for me is:

• Adrenaline rush
• Escapism
• Hope to win
• Flashing, colourful effects

I have realised a few things on my journey of discovery, that’s not to say all good intentions don’t fly out the window when the cravings return!

To be honest no one really takes notice of anything when the craving takes control of you, it’s akin to an itch, you could try to ignore it but eventually you scratch it and scratch it until the itch goes.

By then you could have caused unrepairable damage but if you scratch lightly it is possible you will feel relief and no damage.

Frankly, as far as colourful lights are concerned I am thinking of purchasing a Lava Lamp 😉

Gambling can be life-changing, occasionally in a winning way, but more often than not in a losing way.

A good mantra to consider is ‘the only true winners in the gambling arena are the operators’!

When you see how many new casinos are popping up everywhere, you need to understand their agenda is to make money. Sadly, some operators will break the law, rules and regulations and drown players in the process. It’s a minefield out there!, tread carefully!

Readers share your story 🙏

If you have a spare €50 to chuck at it and it doesn't bother you no harm done. My problem is addictive personality + too much time on my hands = result heavy losses over the years. In my opinion and the team here casinos and providers are the winners because like you said there wouldn't be so many casinos online if there wasn't a nice profit in it. Remember the casino has to pay for offices staff hosting and providers and still have to turn a profit and that profit has to come from the customers. I honestly believe that the RTP on slots isn't whats claimed and these games have never been tested. I wish I'd never come across online casinos my bank account would be healthier and my state of mind would be in a better place.

I’m sorry to hear this, I’m sure much of what you say resonates with many of us.

There is also Licensing for casinos to consider and that can be extremely costly, hence why some don’t operate with a valid license, of course that is not acceptable!

In the UK there are more and more adverts for gambling appearing!

‘The advertising of gambling products and services must be undertaken in a socially responsible manner and you must comply with the UK Advertising Codes issued by the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) and administered by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).’

Tobacco adverts are no longer permitted yet alcohol and gambling are! Why allow advertising for anything with the potential to be addictive or even more concerning be seen by children.

Beggars belief!

I don't blame anyone else for my gambling I'm the one who pushes the deposit button for the buzz ( mostly to lose 😫) once I start I find it hard to stop that's my trouble I could play slots for hrs and do. This month already I lost a fair few quid!! I keep saying I'm going to quit, the best option but I get bored and it must be the colourful graphics keeps my simple mind stimulated. Once I lose I'm quite hard on myself for being stupid depositing again in the first place. I'm now our of spare cash until the New Year so I can't play slots and the break may just break the cycle of highs and misery I'll have to see, as it's been going on for 5yrs now if it wasn't so sad it would be funny but it's only money 😜

A little tip: why not withdraw the cash you would normally spend gambling so you have that money physically in your hand, it may help!

I’m no expert, and do not profess to be, but shared experiences and ideas can be a positive thing.

I'm retired so have time on my hands little brain power I'm weak willed ideal casino fodder 😂 I consider myself a pretty positive person because I always think the next deposit will be different. I have all the material things I need don't particularly want to go on holiday even though I think about it. You mentioned the reasons I gamble buzz boredom etc. Like I said I've done all my dough now so won't have any spare cash until the New Year so the break may break the cycle and I may lose the impulse to deposit again. I will keep you posted. I know Pragmatic don't play fair through casino and demo play so won't be touching any of their slots again. The only other slot I find remotely stimulating is Netents Finn and the Swirly Spin I might get sick of that if I do deposit again if I feel I'm being shafted!! Every other slot of Netents is rubbish so Finn probably is as well.

Good luck with it and as you say the break may break the cycle.

Out of interest, have you ever had any big wins? I am not after details, just curious!

Not massive but I'm sure when I first started I was winning regularly. The other problem I have had with one particular casino which I've just divorced is that I would put in a withdrawal request for a nice win they would take so long in processing it from pending I would get a rush of dissatisfaction and anger reverse it and end up losing it all = stupid I know, the last straw came last week I'm a VIP so they promised faster withdrawals but after 48hrs it was still pending so I cancelled a £540 win from a £50 deposit and ended up losing the lot 🤢 that's not the first time. I've had wins of £1300 1100 1000 all from £50 deposits. I'm now if I play again just going to play at Jokabet and go for smaller wins depending on how the slot is playing and Jokabet process the withdrawal within an hr the thing I will have to do is stop when I'm ahead and not go on depositing when I get the buzz of getting a win in my bank account. However I might just stop in the New Year and go on a luxury holiday to Ibiza next September. I've lost £500 in a night and over the 6yrs I've been gambling on slots I've lost about £25,000!!🤢 Feel a bit of a stupid dim wit for my gambling habit and prior to discovering online casinos I hadn't gambled at all not a penny in a slot I'm now 64 I deposited £30 at Jokabet on Saturday won £197 but put it all back on Sunday 😫 I can play all through the night sometimes £50 Can last 4hrs other times gone in 5 minutes nothing but dead spins. I come on here to offer my advice I was a senior expert but closed my casino guru account as I promised myself I would give up playing mostly Finn and the swirly spin but started playing again because I was bored and now I come on to tell my tale of woe and give my opinion on other matters relating to others problems in what areas I feel I can offer advice.

There is one certainty in gambling that unless you get really lucky the casinos all ways win in the long run and if you don't care about money you could end up like me. So that's my overall message 🤔

I’m convinced that’s why the withdrawal process is delayed. I wonder how many players have done the same. The whole thing is unfair.

I am currently looking at gambling licenses and legal frameworks to better understand how operators should be conducting their businesses.

Once again it was my choice to deposit I've been with them on and off for 3yrs. They gave me VIP status and to be honest it's a bit of a joke that's why I have finally divorced them. They have a reward structure and I got a silver bonus and you have to deposit and wager over £3000 to get it the reward was wait for it 😂 20 free wagering x35 spins on book of dead!! I won .45p a joke 🤬 pathetic so I wrote my account manager a stinker told him everything wrong with Goldwin.com and told him to close my account.

My latest casino Jokabet is the best I've ever joined since I've been gambling instant withdrawals and a good bonus reward system. 24 live chat no KYC and although it's not got a legit licence it's better than all the legit ones I've joined and I've dumped about 50 in my time. I'm gamstop 5yrs self excluded 3yrs served but I've been playing Curacao based licenced after about a 4mth break. It's up to me to stop I have to find something else to occupy my mind or otherwise I will continue to lose in the long term. I still get a buzz when I'm playing and also when I win but also can get pretty angry 🤬🤢 and down when I lose and the slot plays rubbish. Like the Egyptian themed slots are prime example of a much lower RTP than stated as I don't think they have been independently tested and verified.

Interesting view and experience. I certainly agree with your mantra that the real winners are the operators. That's why I don't play in casinos because I understand that if you are lucky you will keep trying to win, which is not realistic in the long run. 

As for the lava lamp, definitely buy it. I have already had the opportunity to own one and it was great. 

Well, thanks for sharing your story. 🙂

Certainly, engaging in a reflective inquiry about the allure of gambling is a crucial exercise. Let's analyze the factors that attract individuals to such activities and consider the potential outcomes.

The attractions to gambling, such as thrill, excitement, risk, the pursuit of victory, boredom alleviation, escapism, and financial decision-making, often stem from a complex interplay of emotions and motivations. However, it's essential to recognize that the results of gambling can vary widely, from regret and loss to happiness and financial difficulties.

Understanding the potential outcomes prompts important questions about self-awareness and responsible gambling. Recognizing the emotions and motivations behind participating in gambling activities is the first step in making informed decisions about its impact on overall well-being.

Identifying when to stop becomes crucial, and hindrances to stopping may include the allure of the game, a desire to recover losses, or other psychological factors. Acknowledging and addressing these obstacles is key to promoting responsible gambling behavior and mitigating potential negative consequences.

Nicely written piece. 👊👍

I think you have written it quite succinctly and clearly and I am of the opinion that you are quite right. There are a lot of factors that go into the world of gambling, so you always have to be careful when you start.

So thank you for your addition, I think it is quite appropriate. 🙂

Thank you for your thoughts Rob, I believe many players start looking at gambling objectively when they have made a loss, which could be small or substantial.

I am encouraged by some governments who have already started to reform their gambling legislation.

I think more countries need to participate in global gambling reform, players should be able to, at the very least, have a fair playing field. It’s a game of risk but that risk can increase substantially when an operator is dishonest.

One of the issues vulnerable players face is the ‘rogue, unscrupulous casinos’ because sadly,, these casinos open up knowing there are players out there who will play on anything to get their fix.

Casino Guru are part of the Global Self-exclusion Scheme. I really hope this comes to fruition!.

Gambling can be devastating, unfortunately, once you become addicted you need to fight these " fixes " long-term. I think any of us can get addicted, the problem is how you start it, if you lose the very first time you come into a casino online or offline you are unlikely to get hooked on it. Winning first is the biggest problem! I won the first time and it was the biggest problem, never been into gambling before, actually, I have never been to a land-based casino to this date and never found them appealing! I stopped gambling. You are more likely to be struck by lightning (1 in 56,439) than win the lottery. My biggest concern about gambling is these rogue casinos playing unfairly, but also inclusive streamers playing with fake money and then attracting well very young generation to get hooked. And no, I do not believe is only gambling addicts' fault that is destroying their lives, the gambling industry is well responsible for that on their behalf. They know that a lot of revenue comes from problem gamblers. Is this ethical? - I do not think so.

you would think is only your fault, but, it is not, I know no one is forcing you to gamble, but this addiction is evil and there is a lot of can be done, to prevent suicides and complete financial ruin from external sources! I recommend some documentaries about problem gambling !