Speech Presentation About Gambling: Should it Be Illegal? (Essay Sample)

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Gambling Must Be Illegal
Introduction
Gambling, which is also called betting, is the wagering of money on events whose outcome is based on probability. In some cases, anything of monetary value such as jewelry, vehicles, and houses are wagered. What is more, betting takes various forms from slot machines to lottery tickets. The outcome of gambling is mostly instant but uncertain (Haerens 56). It means that one can either instantly lose or win. Although betting is legal in most countries, I am of the opinion that gambling should be made illegal for various reasons this paper is going to discuss.
Gambling Addiction
Frequent gambling leads to addiction. This problem is as real as any other one. People who gamble explain that there is a certain thrill that comes with speculation (Skolnik 48). One’s adrenaline is on the rise as they anticipate winning. According to gamblers, the ultimate emotional response associated with winning a bet is priceless. Consequently, a person cannot live without gaming. There are different reasons while people participate in this kind of activity: winning, socialization, passing the time, excitement, and so on.
No matter the excuse, an individual cannot tell that they have become addicted to the activity. Victims think that they are in control until the problem is too complex for them to handle on their own. In some cases, addicts develop mental health concerns such as anti-social personality disorders and depression. Eventually, gambling addicts call for professional help to get over their problem (Skolnik 57). If betting is made illegal, the victims would be unheard of in the country.
Economic Effects
The immediate economic impact of betting is finding money to the game. Irresponsible gambling leads many people to be in debt. Studies have shown that most money spent on gambling in low-income households is three times higher than that spent in top-earning ones. Some individuals in states that do not support gambling go as far as traveling to other countries to participate in the game at the expense of their families. Such is the definition of poor economic planning on the part of the gambler. Participation in betting, some people have even lost their property including homes. In some cases, parents have failed to pay school fees for their children because they would rather bet on this money. Additionally, most gamblers are unable to keep their jobs. They choose to spend time in casinos at the expense of their work (Wilcox 71).
On a wider scale, reports indicate that over five billion dollars are lost yearly to gambling addictions and forty billion dollars spent on social services and creditor losses. More often than not, gamblers are in debt. To settle these bills, they often engage in illegal activities. Some may end up stealing even from their employers to cover their expenses. Gambling addicts have masterminded most fraudulent cases and check forgeries. Additionally, dice games and lotteries are responsible for nurturing an environment where fraud and corruption are the order of the day. Consequently, prison systems are economically strained together with public assistance programs and legal systems. All these facilities aim at correcting a problem that would have been avoided if gambling were made illegal.
Social Effects
Not only a gambler’s immediate family is affected by his addictions, but also the community as a whole faces the problem. One’s friends and colleagues are likely to suffer from their activities. Gamblers borrow money from relatives and friends. Houses are mortgaged to recover borrowed funds. Moreover, players may steal from their loved ones to settle bills. When victims are unable to cope, society carries the remaining debt (Wong 43). A gambler is definitely a social misfit.
In some cases, family members attest to having suffered physical and psychological abuse. When debts are not repaid, creditors become wild. They unleash their venom on the gambler’s family. Threats are issues to scare the player into effecting payment. Sometimes these threats are executed, and families lose their loved ones or their hard earned property.
Family relationships are the principal victims of gambling addictions (Wilcox 107). Research has shown that spouses of gambling addicts are likely to file for divorce. Their partners are unable to tend to their families, and this brings a lot of misunderstanding. Gamblers spend most of their time in casinos and other gaming facilities, and they end up having little or no time for family matters. Consequently, their spouses are angered by their activities and opt to exit from the relationship.
Children bear the brunt of their parents’ gambling addictions. They are too naïve to handle the emotional distress created at home. They may be unable to comprehend their mother’s suffering. In cases where their parents are abusive, children may suffer mental, verbal, or physical abuse. These forms of mistreatment have lasting negative impacts. Eventually, kids end up being emotionally disturbed at a tender age. The result is the kids with behavioral problems. Research has shown that adult gamblers had gambling parents. Therefore, there is a high chance that their children will become players in future (Haugen et al.67).
Additionally, children suffer from physical and emotional abandonment....