Gambling: Hobby or Addiction?

Gambling has always been a controversial topic. While some people consider it a harmless pastime, others think of it as a devastating addiction. Meetville.com (dating app to find the right person) revealed the fact during a poll, conducted between 10/3/14 and 1/8/15.

The poll posed the question: “What is your attitude towards gambling?” Every other person polled expressed positive attitude towards gambling.

55,514 took part in the poll. From the USA – 65%, from Canada – 3%, from Britain – 10%, from Australia – 7% and from other countries – 15%.

For some people the temptation of high-speed, high-stake gambling is irresistible. It is really disturbing as it has become more acceptable and accessible than ever before. And that is one of the reasons why the number of gambling addicts is growing. Daniel Bortz, financial journalist, says that: “Some refer to problem gambling as a "silent addiction" because it's easy to hide. Sometimes, people don't learn their spouse has a gambling addiction until their car is repossessed or their house is in foreclosure.”

Christian Nordqvist, writer and editor at Medical News Today, warns: “Problem gambling is harmful to psychological and physical health. People dealing with this addiction can suffer from depression, migraine, distress, intestinal disorders and other anxiety related problems. Ultimately, severe problem gambling can lead to suicide.”

Alex Cusper, Meetville service analyst, concludes that gambling may be a hobby or a grave addiction. So everything in moderation is the key. They become obsessed with the gamble and risk all their money causing them to lose their homes, food, and potential well being.

Meetville, a leading mobile dating service, regularly conducts research among its users. Millions of people from the U.S., Canada, Britain and Australia answer hundreds of questions every month. You can find the results of the poll here. If you are interested in research on a particular topic, please contact us. Any reprint of the material should be followed by clickable links to the survey.