The Gambler

“Care to make a wager?” I said thisyou saved by not going to the gas station. In all
to a friend during a discussion we were having. Heactuality, you just gambled with yourself to see if
quickly responded that, he was sure that I knewyou could make it to your destination without the
he wasn’t a gambling man. His answeradded stop.
completely took me by surprise. I was utterlyMy point of view may seem as odd to some as
stumped. Here was a man, I thought, who reapsit did to my friend, at first. What I tried to explain
the benefits of a democratic, capitalist society andto him is this: just because he does not go to
he was saying that he did not gamble.casinos or poker halls does not mean that he is
So, I inquired, “What is gambling?”not a gambler. There are compulsive gamblers
“I just don’t bet and stuff likeand those that are action seekers (they usually
that,” he responded.just play for the action, not the win). Maybe he
My definition of gambling for years has been anydoes not fit into either of these categories, but
wager, bet, or proffered material/service in abecause he is usually on the computer checking
situation of chance in hopes of making a profit orfor the slightest change in a company’s
gain. My friend, I knew, has been dabbling in thestock prices, he has become compulsive, addictive
stock market for years now. Does he noteven.
consider the stock market a form of gambling?This addition runs even deeper, it threatens our
Within the context of my definition, I can readilyyouth. According to Pat Fowler, Project Director
identify the fundamental markers. Take, forof the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling,
example, if my friend takes money (his or[the] promotion of lottery, horse racing, or bingo
other’s) and invests into a stock that isleads “young people to think it is ok to do
selling at $50 a share. In all respects, my friend[it].” But in my opinion this is only half-way
would not be buying into this stock to lose. So lettrue. While promotion might make these avenues
us say that my friend buys a $50 share and theof gambling more popular it does not overshadow
stock doubles to $100, my friend has just made athe biggest examples of what drives our society
profit. The fact that he could have lost his $50to gamble, and that is our education, which is a
expresses the chance he took. This is gambling ingamble within itself. We are taught to reach for
all sense of the term.the stars, to aim for the sky, to take a chance.
A car salesman is a gambler; anyone who opensThis tautology is meant to prepare us for life in
a business is a gambler because they made asociety, but just reinforces our get-rich-quick
wager by putting money into an idea and hopedattitude. Taking a chance on the stock market or
that in doing so they would make a significantcapitalizing on a business idea, all require a
return. It is no wonder that Jean Falzon, Executivepercentage of chance and investment.
Director of the National Council on ProblemWhat I was trying to explain to my friend was
Gambling, can make the statement that,the fact that he did not immediately see the
“gambling is now a national pastime.”connection because according to the Illinois
She can make such a statement because ourInstitute for Addiction Recovery,
whole system is built on making money or taking“pathological gambling is often a hidden
chances.disease.” And as Alec Roy, MD, a
When I mentioned this to my friend, he flat outpsychiatrist formerly at the National Institute on
disagreed and said I was taking the meaning ofAlcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that
gambling out of context. To bolster his position hepathological gamblers have lower levels of
said that, “only dice games, card games,norepinephrine than normal gamblers;
and slot machines should be considered“norepinephrine is secreted under stress,
gambling.”arousal, or thrill, so pathological gamblers gamble
I countered with the question, what about theto make up for their underdosage.” So the
lottery? Is not a casino a business? Is not anext time you wonder why it feels good to run
clothing store a business? All of them are out toto the computer and check the latest price
make a profit; is there a chance that they couldchange of your stock, or the next time you
loose their investment? The mere system ofconvince yourself that your business needs more
capitalism is gambling.advertising because it feels good, remember your
“How?” he demanded.norepinephrine level because this is gambling.
I told him, to lay in wait for something to happenMy friend nodded in what seemed like a dejected
in hopes of making a profit is capitalizing. Thisagreement. So, to drive my point home, I
involves chance and a hope of making a profitreminded him of the time he ran the red light.
whether monetary or material gain.He smiled and said, “Maybe I’m a
I held my hand up indicating him to hold hisgambler after all.”
response then I plunged into yet another fact. DoI smiled back at him. Society has created a
you know that according to the National Councilgambler in all of us. We all seek to raise our
on Problem Gambling, “over 70% of U.S.norepinephrine levels for thrill and excitement, or
adults report gambling at least once in the pastchance and gain.
year?” Where do you think this appetiteWorks Cited
for gambling comes from? It is embedded in our“G2E Flyer.” National Council on
capitalist culture.Problem Gambling. [
Let’s face it, you too are a gambler, just“Problem Gambling” Wikipedia: The
remember every time you try to avoid stoppingFree Encyclopedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki
for gas when you are running late but your gasProblem_gambling
tank is running low. You are taking a chance in“Recognizing gambling addiction.”
hopes of getting to your destination withoutIllinois Institute for Addiction Recovery.
running out of gas. Your possible gain is the time