II. Type
- Process Addiction
III. Epidemiology
- Compulsive gamblers in U.S. estimated: 5 Million
- U.S. Gambling legal in every state except Utah, Hawaii
- Casino profits: $250,000 net profit per slot machine
IV. Casino Psychology
- Constant sound of other people wining
- Ringing of slots, and coins clinking from machine
- No windows and very few clocks
- Timeless environment
- Chips exchanged for money
- "Not real money being thrown around"
- Free Alcohol
- Disoriented, uninhibited
- "Air purification"
- Oxygen Supplementation pumped into casino in evening
- Intermittent Reinforcement Schedule
- Occasional gambler wins and keeps them playing
-
Sensation of expectation
- "Near wins": Hit 7, 7, and part of a 7
- No increase chance of win, but Sensation of near win
V. Types of gamblers
- Action Gamblers
- Often men gambling in groups around craps table
- Driven by
- Grandiosity
- Control
- Fame (on a stage)
- Respect
- Action, Excitement
- Winning does not matter
- Money is only to get gambler to action
- Win or lose, they keep playing
- Escape Gamblers
- Often women gambling alone at slot machines
- Reinforced by Sensation
- Stimulant
- Pain killer or Tranquilizer effect
- Escape from reality: "Zone out"
- Anonymous relationship with slot machine
- Machine used for companionship
VI. Stages
- Winning Stage
- Gambler has success and walks home with easy profit
- Losing Stage
- Continues gambling despite losses
- Action or Escape reinforces gambling behavior
- Desperation Stage (Follows bail-out)
- Risk everything to support habit
- Suicide or Insanity
VII. Effects
- As with other addictions, willing to sacrifice
- Relationships
- Savings
- Willing to do anything to support habit
- Bank robbery
- Kidnapping
VIII. Prognosis
- Highest Suicide rate of any addiction
IX. Resources
- Gamblers Anonymous