Gambling

Gambling is considered a sin by most religions, and a waste of time by others, but some people really get addicted to it. I think I have gambled once in my life, I brought a lottery ticket (nothing really very big, I know) and I lost and so I've never really bothered with it since. My parents religiously buy a lottery ticket every week, and they'll win the odd £10, or sometimes even more, but I always think that if they added up all the £1's they have spent on the lottery, it would probably equal the amount of the jackpot! So as you can see, I think it's pointless....but am I wrong to do so?

Gambling has always seemed a bit desperate to me, but to be honest its not just people who need money that gamble, wealthy people gamble also. There is something seedy about going into your local betting shop, or the arcade in town - probably because the windows are usually covered up - but I must admit that I have never been in either.

Casino's have given gambling a glamorous edge, in films and adverts the places appear to be full of wealthy, beautiful people and not your average Joe Gambler. Its dressed up in this way so as to appeal to people and to try and abolish views that people like me have about gambling. No doubt it would be fun to go to Las Vegas, but I think I'd get bored if I lost, and I'd know not to keep going if I won.

People really get adicted to gambling, but most the time I think its just a lack of self control. I used to know someone who would think nothing of putting £50 into a bandit machine a few times a week, and if he won he would usually get less than what he had put in! It's absolute madness, I'd much rather spend my money on something more reliable. Fair enough it would be great to win lots of money, but the way some people go about it is just crazy. I won't say that I don't think i'll ever gamble because who knows what the future holds, but I hope that I'll never get into that situation where I feel i have to.

For more information on gambling and tell tale signs of addiction, visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onelife/health/addiction/gambling.shtml.