Gambling

For some reason, gambling does not get the bad rap that it deserves. Other vices such as illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sexual addictions, etc. seem to be viewed by most people as the bad vices that they are. Most states even endorse gambling in the form of lotteries. Gambling is a highly addictive, destructive, vice that deserves a bad rap. This is why I’ve chosen this topic to discuss today.

First of all, I want to discuss the psychology behind gambling. Now mind you, I only minored in psychology, so my knowledge might be somewhat limited. But here goes. I’m sure most of you are familiar with classical conditioning. Pavlov’s dogs. You ring a bell before you feed the dogs. After a few repetitions, the dogs associate ringing the bell with food. Then, you elicit a biological response, salivating, when you ring a bell. This is classical conditioning.

There is another type of conditioned response called operant conditioning. I don’t remember all the correct terminology but I will explain it the way I remember it. Operant conditioning is similar to classical conditioning but instead of eliciting a biological response, a behavioral response is elicited. The example I remember from college when learning about operant conditioning is fishing. You go fishing, you catch a fish. The fish is the reward for the behavior which is fishing. Therefore, since you were positively reinforced or rewarded for fishing, that particular behavior will increase. But, the next time you go fishing, you don’t catch any fish. Maybe the next five times you go fishing you don’t catch any fish. Why do you keep going fishing? Because of operant conditioning. Because you have learned that there is a chance that you might catch a fish if you keep trying. You may modify your behavior by changing lures, selecting a different fishing spot, going fishing at a different time of day, etc. Perhaps on the next fishing trip you catch three fish. So every time you are rewarded, catch a fish, it reinforces the behavior of fishing.

What is interesting about this is that the randomness of the reward is what makes it addictive. Or in other words what will make the behavior more likely to occur in the future. If every time you went fishing you caught exactly 1 fish, the behavior is much more easily extinguished. On the other hand, if the reward is more random, for example you never know how many fish are going to catch, you might catch 20 fish or you might not catch any, the behavior, fishing, is much more difficult to extinguish. So it is with gambling.

There is always the lure of the big jackpot. This is why gambling is so addictive and destructive. What I find interesting is, it is common knowledge that the house always comes out ahead. In other words, the casinos always make a profit. They take in more money than they dish out. Therefore, gambling is always a losing situation.

But people continue to gamble because they might hit the jackpot. And some do. But even those usually end up losing it because they can’t quit. Gambling has destroyed many lives and families.

So why do states endorse gambling in the form of lotteries? It always comes down to money. States make a lot of money through lotteries. It’s as simple as that. The sad thing about lotteries is that usually the people who put the most money into lotteries are the ones who can least afford it. People who are looking for a quick ride to easy street. The ironic thing is that the rare few who do win big bucks in the lottery find that their life is not any happier than it was before, and is usually more complicated.

I find it to be irresponsible and unethical for states to endorse lotteries. For the politicians know the addictive and destructive nature of gambling. There is a much better way to increase state revenues.

Now you might say, not everyone who gambles is addicted, not everyone who gambles destroys their lives. And you would be right. But there are many who are addicted and there are many whose lives have been destroyed by gambling. Not only the gambler but their families as well. You could say the same thing about drugs and alcohol or any other addiction. There are many people who drink, gamble, or even use drugs who do not become addicted. But there are many, many others who do. And it destroys them. This is why we are counseled to avoid these vices.

I believe that we’re not only given the word of wisdom, and other commandments such as not gambling, avoiding pornography, etc. to keep us from becoming addicted, and destroying our lives but also as a test of our obedience. Are we willing to follow the Prophet’s counsel no matter what? Even when we might not fully agree or understand why?

So, the next time you are tempted to purchase a lottery ticket, or drop a nickel in the slot machine, don’t do it. It is a matter of principle. Gambling is destructive and addicting and not to mention something the prophets and apostles have counseled us not to do.

That’s my two cents.