Gambling: The sure way of getting nothing from something.   Wilson Mizner

Types of Gamblers

• Social Gamblers. These are people who gamble for entertainment or social interaction. They do not gamble excessively or too frequently. They may take vacations to Las Vegas or go to the casino occasionally, buy a few lottery tickets, etc.
• Professional Gamblers. These gamblers make a living gambling. They learn the game and play in order to make a living. They make careful choices about their bets and know when not to bet. Although, a professional gambler can become compulsive, most know very well the odds are against them and do not chase losses.
• Criminal gamblers. These are the gamblers who fix horse races, run crooked games, play with loaded dice, use marked cards, use devices to override the electronics of slot machines, count cards, etc. They are not gambling compulsively, they are gambling criminally.
• Escape gamblers. These gamblers gamble to escape the problems in their lives.
• Action Gamblers. These gamblers are playing for the thrill. They like the lights, the atmosphere, the noise, the smoke, but they are playing for the exhilaration.
• Compulsive gamblers. These gamblers have lost control. They are no longer gambling for any of the above reasons. They no longer have the ability to make a rational decision to not gamble. Most gamblers who gamble frequently exhibit some traits of compulsive gambling, as evidenced by gambling more often than they should, gambling more money than they intended, gambling for longer than planned or incorporating gambling rituals during their gambling activities..
• Pathological Gamblers. These gamblers are compulsive gamblers who have progressed to the point of causing harm to themselves or others through deterioration of relationships, both personal and professional, criminal behavior to finance their gambling, loss of job, bankruptcy, depression or suicidal thoughts over gambling problems, etc.

Copyright 2007

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