The Devil's Playground

Let me start by saying that I enjoy going to a casino about once a month to play the slot machines. They can be alot of fun. The flashing lights, the spinning images, and awesome graphics can leave you entertained for an hour maybe more. I occasionally accompany my mom when she wants to play bingo. However, there are many dangers associated with gambling if you are not careful. Gambling can become addictive and wreak havoc on so many levels. Similar to drugs and alcohol, gambling can destroy lives. It can develop into a disease of the brain. When we gamble, this triggers an automatic response to the "pleasure centre" in the brain, thus generating more dopamine resulting in an increase of adrenaline and euphoria. I chose to write this article to educate those who start and to encourage problem gamblers to seek help.

When it starts, it seems like innocent fun. A few dollars a couple minutes of fun, and then when you least expect it; BOOM! You win a lot of money or hit the jackpot. This has happened to me a couple of times. On one occasion, when I first went to a casino, I won a little over a thousand dollars and I had only spent forty dollars. I couldn't believe that I had actually won that much of a windfall after only my second visit to a casino. Beginner's luck. I was shaking with excitement and the adrenaline rush gave an awesome high.

Casinos are designed like a labyrinth to keep people in.

Casinos are designed like a labyrinth in order to keep people in. Even after you have had your fun and have cashed in, the exit door is hard to find. Whenever I have tried to find the exit doors to a casino, I find myself not only getting lost in the process, I also can't help passing by other casino players who have just hit a big jackpot and wishing that were me. This is where the temptation sets in and I stop at slot nearby only to have lost the money I just won. This is why I gave this article the title, "The Devil's Playground." I finally find the exit door and feel like I have been punched in the gut. Not to mention cursing myself for having been so stupid.

I used to think that anyone who had a gambling problem just got attached to the art of losing. Upon further research, I have come to the conclusion that it is about those "near misses" that keeps people coming back in the hope of chasing their loses, hoping of winning back the money lost.

If you find yourself returning to a casino in hopes of getting back the money you lost, don't. I've done this, and not only do I not win back my money, I just end up losing more money.

Always set a limit and stay within it.

Next time you decide to visit a bingo hall, an online casino or a actual casino a race track; here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Go to have fun not to make money.
2. Before you go, take only the amount of money you can afford to lose. Set a limit. Always.
3. Leave your credit cards at home.As I mentioned earlier, casinos are designed like a labyrinth to keep people in. Even more alarming, ATM machines are everywhere in a casino. Taking out a cash advance on a credit card is very expensive. Interest rates from cash advances on credit cards, accrue daily until the cash advance is paid off in full, unlike store purchases where there is a grace period to pay off the balance.
4. If you do win more than what you came in with, remember to quit while you are ahead.
5. If you end up losing the money you came with, cut your losses and get out.
6. Gambling is for entertainment purposes only.

If you or a loved one is struggling with a gambling problem, here is a toll free number to call for help. 1 800 522 4700.