Quote from both of my parents:
"Buying lotteries is just like a form of leisure or enjoyment..... There is nothing wrong about buying lotteries. Just to not get too addicted to it, then it is ok....."

From the quote by my parents, it is obvious that adults nowadays are taking lotteries as a form of relaxation or leisure. Although I know that my parents are not very addicted to lottery, I think that this might only be an excuse for some adults. They might say that they just buy lotteries for leisure, but they might have not noticed that they had actually already addicted to it. However, a gambler will never admit that he/she is addicted to gambling as they were already so obsessed with it that they cannot even realise what they are doing. Playing with lotteries can also become a habit if the gamblers cannot control and restrain themselves.


Firstly, I will talk about the psychology of lottery gambling. Although many people will think that buying lottery is not really gambling, I think that the definitions of both terms are the same as both of them are making the gambler to "put their money in risk".


Why do I say so?

In my opinion, gambling or buying lotteries only makes the gambler to fish out their money and hope that "their money can get more money". Some gamblers are gambling despite losing many times due to greed. When the gamblers win any lottery, they will be ecstatic and will want more as they think that Lady Luck is with them now, hence, they feel that if they do not bet or gamble, it will be a waste of opportunity. In addition, some gamblers might bet or gamble because it is only pure leisure or interest to them at first but later as they bet more often, they will get addicted to it without realising it so easily just like being addicted to drugs. In my opinion, I feel that gambling or buying lotteries will not really bring much wealth to gamblers as what you have bet is not exactly what you will get in return.


This is my view on lottery and gambling: You may just want to bet for that one minute, but you may get bankrupt in a second.....


The psychology of lottery gambling

Lotteries have traditionally been regarded as "soft" forms of gambling which are assumed to have very few negative effects on the gamblers. However, that does not mean that lotteries cannot bring the same effect as gambling does. Lottery is actually a form of gambling and this type of gambling can be more dangerous than the common gambling when it is passed overuncritically without looking at consequences or effects from a psychological perspective. National Lottery is also introduced and this is also one example of lottery gambling to me. However, what seems to be so interesting is that in 1995, the Government of UK originally once argued that the National Lottery was not a realform of gambling because it was for good causes. But I still believe that any situation in which people intentionally risk and stake their money or savings on a future event in a risking attempt to gain more money is gambling. Therefore, buying tickets for a lottery is a form of gambling.


Over the years, there have been many claims that lotteries may be addictive. In my opinion, I absolutely feel that lotteries are addictive, hence, I condemn and discourage them in my point of view. Actually, there are quite many factors that led me to discourage lotteries.


One of the major concerns is that if a place has a significant increase in gambling opportunities, it will then be a potential rise in the number of problem gamblers - or gambling addicts. Addictions are always resulting from an interaction and interplay between many factors including the person’s biological and/or genetic predisposition, their psychological constitution, their social environment and the nature of the activity itself.
It has also been clearly shown from research evidence that any place where accessibility of gambling is increased, there will then be an increase not only in the number of regular gamblers but also a significant increase in the number of problem gamblers. This obviously means that not everyone is susceptible to developing gambling addictions but it does show that if there are more gambling opportunities, there will be more problems with the gamblers.


Problem gambling

Another factor that caused me to condemn lottery gambling is another big term, Problem gambling which is also known as ludomania. This is an urge to gamble despite knowing or experiencing some harmful negative consequences and effects. Problem gambling develops from social gambling and will worsen if probelm gambling persists. Problem gamblers will still gamble even though they have the the desire to stop. The term is preferred to compulsive gambling among many professionals as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word.


In addition, problem gambling is often defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others, rather than by the gambler's behaviour. Severe problem gambling may be diagnosed as clinical pathological gambling if the gambler meets certain criteria. Once the gambler has been diagnosed of clincal pathological gambling, it will be vey serious and difficult to cure. Although the term gambling addiction is common in the recovery movement, pathological gambling is considered to be an impulse control disorder, hence, I feel that gambling will lead to many negative consequences and effects such as problem gambling. As a result of problem gambling, gamblers might even affect your family members who are innocent and should not suffer the consequences for the gambler. Thus, I will encourage people to think twice and carefully before gambling and buying lotteries and the consequences may be dire and severe.


Problem gambling can cost you your savings, house and even your family. But the message from counsellors is, you can recover.

The following quote is from Charles Lee on addiction of gambling:
"Clients often feel that they are fine when they manage to quit for a few months. They lac the in-depth knowledge that addiction is a lifelong recovery process, and skills learning and relapse prevention training are vital for long-term success."

Problem gambling, gambling addiction or pathological gambling is a progressive condition similar to alcohol or drug addictions. Those with a gambling addiction have difficulties controlling their gambling habit, even when it has serious negative consequences for them and their families. Their gambling behaviour will increase over time, both in frequency and amount wagered.


-My opinions

Hence, I feel that lottery is actually a form of gambling and you will also get addicted to it. Its consequences may be as severe as problem gambling. It may cause the loss of savings and lead to many other consequences such as bad family relationships. Thus, I do not encourage and condemn lottery in Singapore as many youths are prone to these addictions of lotteries which may even cost their lifes.