Gambling As Entertainment

For me, the most important concept in casino gambling is the idea that gambling is fun and should be considered an entertainment expense. You should think of it that way. When you do, it becomes easier to decide whether it's worth it. On any given trip to the casino, you might have results that differ widely from the mathematical expectation.

• Gambling As Entertainment App
• Gambling As Entertainment Companies
• Gambling As Entertainment Websites
• Gambling As Entertainment Movie

Gaming giants are no longer each other's biggest competition. Instead, the industry needs to widen its focus to properly consider the social media and ecommerce behemoths who are making gaming a strategic priority. Roughly 2.5 billion people play games, even if many of these don't count themselves as ‘gamers', and so it's little surprise that Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple are making big bets on gaming.

• The Ministry of Health says 52 per cent of us indulge in some form of betting activity each year, with Lotto by far the most prevalent, followed by Instant Kiwi, horse racing, and gaming machines.
• Plaza Casino Unveils Downtown Las Vegas Redevelopment Plans. The Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas plans to convert a soon-to-be vacated bus terminal into a space for entertainment.

In fact, the likes of Amazon, Google and Facebook are in prime position to take a slice of the gaming market, especially as it moves towards cloud-based play, according to Bidstack CEO, James Draper. Speaking on The ‘Bedroom Hobby to Boardroom Priority' panel at The Drum's Can Do festival, in partnership with Bidstack, the panel also discussed why esports' next frontier could be mobile-based and chatted about which games had kept them entertained during lockdown.

Cloud gaming and why it matters

'Phil Spencer [head of Xbox] doesn't see Sony as his main competitor,' Draper told The Drum reporter John McCarthy, who was hosting the panel. 'He sees Amazon and Google being his main competitors, and he's right.'

Referring to Facebook's 2019 acquisition of Spanish cloud-gaming business PlayGiga, he added: 'Look at what a certain social media platform has acquired in Spain. That would point to them knowing that their audience is on those games and wanting to follow them there.'

Draper said that he believed the interactive element that cloud-based gaming allows would benefit non-gaming platforms with huge existing audiences, adding that the technology would lead to casual gaming - often played on mobile - becoming much more sophisticated and less about the ‘pick-up and drop' mechanics that mobile gaming has become synonymous with.

Esports migrates to mobile

Meanwhile, Glen Calvert, chief operating officer of sports team Fnatic and founder of media business Affectv, said that he believed mobile gaming would be transformed by esports, especially in Asia.

'esports was born out of PC gaming and that's been the lion's share of it for the last 15 years,' he said. 'But in the last two to three years, the growth of mobile esports is compounding and scaling, especially in India and Southeast Asia.'

He attributed this to many consumers in those regions being keen to play esports competitively but being unable to afford gaming PC hardware and gave the example of Riot Games' League of Legends as one major esports game being heavily promoted on mobile to combat this.

'Mobile is their entry point,' he continued. 'You have millions and millions of addressable audiences, so I'd imagine that in the next two to three years, mobile esports teams will be on par with those using PCs or consoles.'

Another aspect of gaming currently undergoing rapid change is VR, Derek Wise, chief product officer at Oracle Data Cloud, asserted. Responding to McCarthy's question on whether VR could ever enter the at-home gaming market, he said that Covid-19 had prompted an increase in at-home VR due to gamers' concerns around hygiene.

'Covid-19 has really boosted VR, for the studios I work with, at least,' he added. 'They cannot build the kits fast enough at the moment. The pandemic has led to people wanting to have their VR kits in their homes. Environmental variables are forcing changes when it comes to VR.'

Lockdown Gaming

The panel also talked about the games they had been indulging in during lockdown.

Bidstack's Draper said that he had been 'losing many an evening to Football Manager' while his colleague, Bidstack's VP of gaming Charlotte Cook, added that she had been playing the first part of The Last of Us (the highly anticipated sequel to which was released in June to become the fastest-selling first party PlayStation 4 exclusive ever).

'I've been playing The Last of Us and am desperately trying to finish it before someone spoils the sequel for me. It's one of the most emotionally charged games I've ever played.'

Fellow panellist, Fnatic's Calvert said that he had mostly been playing Mario Kart with his two sons. 'I long for the day that it becomes an esports game because when that comes I down tools, stop everything I'm doing and just focus on that,' he joked. 'No one can beat me on Rainbow Road!'

Will Kassoy, president of online funding platform Omaze and a former SVP of Activision Blizzard, was more in the mood for reflection. He concluded: ' Gaming has really evolved from being something aimed at boys in their bedrooms. When I first got into the industry in the early 90s, Nintendo and Sega were for teenagers'.

'But now a whole generation has grown up with consoles, and it's really become a viable entertainment medium next to music, television and movies. It's now seen as art, and brands would be silly not to get involved with such a booming industry.'

This is first in the two-part series. You can watch the first part of the digital panel here.

This article is about:

Bidstack is the leading in-game advertising platform. We bridge the gap between game developers and advertisers by enhancing the gaming experience with real-world ads. We unlock gaming for advertisers..

Join us, it's free.

Become a member to get access to:

• Exclusive Content
• Daily and specialised newsletters
• Research and analysis

Gambling As Entertainment App

Are you or a loved one dealing with a gambling problem? Explore the warning signs and symptoms and learn how to stop.

What is gambling addiction and problem gambling?

Gambling problems can happen to anyone from any walk of life. Your gambling goes from a fun, harmless diversion to an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. Whether you bet on sports, scratch cards, roulette, poker, or slots—in a casino, at the track, or online—a gambling problem can strain your relationships, interfere with work, and lead to financial disaster. You may even do things you never thought you would, like running up huge debts or even stealing money to gamble.

Gambling addiction—also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder—is an impulse-control disorder. If you're a compulsive gambler, you can't control the impulse to gamble, even when it has negative consequences for you or your loved ones. Hollywood casino slot machines. You'll gamble whether you're up or down, broke or flush, and you'll keep gambling regardless of the consequences—even when you know that the odds are against you or you can't afford to lose.

Of course, you can also have a gambling problem without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that disrupts your life. If you're preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you have a gambling problem.

A gambling addiction or problem is often associated with other behavior or mood disorders. Many problem gamblers also suffer with substance abuse issues, unmanaged ADHD, stress, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. To overcome your gambling problems, you'll also need to address these and any other underlying causes as well.

Although it may feel like you're powerless to stop gambling, there are plenty of things you can do to overcome the problem, repair your relationships and finances, and finally regain control of your life.
The first step is to separate the myths from the facts about gambling problems:

Gambling addiction signs and symptoms

Gambling addiction is sometimes referred to as a 'hidden illness' because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers also typically deny or minimize the problem—even to themselves. However, you may have a gambling problem if you:

Feel the need to be secretive about your gambling. You might gamble in secret or lie about how much you gamble, feeling others won't understand or that you will surprise them with a big win.

Have trouble controlling your gambling. Once you start gambling, can you walk away? Or are you compelled to gamble until you've spent your last dollar, upping your bets in a bid to win lost money back?

Gamble even when you don't have the money. You may gamble until you've spent your last dollar, and then move on to money you don't have—money to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children. You may feel pushed to borrow, sell, or even steal things for gambling money.

Have family and friends worried about you. Denial keeps problem gambling going. If friends and family are worried, listen to them carefully. It's not a sign of weakness to ask for help. Many older gamblers are reluctant to reach out to their adult children if they've gambled away their inheritance, but it's never too late to make changes for the better.

Self-help for gambling problems

The biggest step to overcoming a gambling addiction is realizing that you have a problem. It takes tremendous strength and courage to own up to this, especially if you have lost a lot of money and strained or broken relationships along the way. Don't despair, and don't try to go it alone. Many others have been in your shoes and have been able to break the habit and rebuild their lives. You can, too.

Learn to relieve unpleasant feelings in healthier ways. Do you gamble when you're lonely or bored? Or after a stressful day at work or following an argument with your spouse? Gambling may be a way to self-soothe unpleasant emotions, unwind, or socialize. But there are healthier and more effective ways of managing your moods and relieving boredom, such as exercising, spending time with friends who don't gamble, taking up new hobbies, or practicing relaxation techniques.

Strengthen your support network. It's tough to battle any addiction without support, so reach out to friends and family. If your support network is limited, there are ways to make new friends without relying on visiting casinos or gambling online. Try reaching out to colleagues at work, joining a sports team or book club, enrolling in an education class, or volunteering for a good cause.

Esports migrates to mobile

Meanwhile, Glen Calvert, chief operating officer of sports team Fnatic and founder of media business Affectv, said that he believed mobile gaming would be transformed by esports, especially in Asia.

'esports was born out of PC gaming and that's been the lion's share of it for the last 15 years,' he said. 'But in the last two to three years, the growth of mobile esports is compounding and scaling, especially in India and Southeast Asia.'

He attributed this to many consumers in those regions being keen to play esports competitively but being unable to afford gaming PC hardware and gave the example of Riot Games' League of Legends as one major esports game being heavily promoted on mobile to combat this.

'Mobile is their entry point,' he continued. 'You have millions and millions of addressable audiences, so I'd imagine that in the next two to three years, mobile esports teams will be on par with those using PCs or consoles.'

Another aspect of gaming currently undergoing rapid change is VR, Derek Wise, chief product officer at Oracle Data Cloud, asserted. Responding to McCarthy's question on whether VR could ever enter the at-home gaming market, he said that Covid-19 had prompted an increase in at-home VR due to gamers' concerns around hygiene.

'Covid-19 has really boosted VR, for the studios I work with, at least,' he added. 'They cannot build the kits fast enough at the moment. The pandemic has led to people wanting to have their VR kits in their homes. Environmental variables are forcing changes when it comes to VR.'

Lockdown Gaming

The panel also talked about the games they had been indulging in during lockdown.

Bidstack's Draper said that he had been 'losing many an evening to Football Manager' while his colleague, Bidstack's VP of gaming Charlotte Cook, added that she had been playing the first part of The Last of Us (the highly anticipated sequel to which was released in June to become the fastest-selling first party PlayStation 4 exclusive ever).

'I've been playing The Last of Us and am desperately trying to finish it before someone spoils the sequel for me. It's one of the most emotionally charged games I've ever played.'

Fellow panellist, Fnatic's Calvert said that he had mostly been playing Mario Kart with his two sons. 'I long for the day that it becomes an esports game because when that comes I down tools, stop everything I'm doing and just focus on that,' he joked. 'No one can beat me on Rainbow Road!'

Will Kassoy, president of online funding platform Omaze and a former SVP of Activision Blizzard, was more in the mood for reflection. He concluded: ' Gaming has really evolved from being something aimed at boys in their bedrooms. When I first got into the industry in the early 90s, Nintendo and Sega were for teenagers'.

'But now a whole generation has grown up with consoles, and it's really become a viable entertainment medium next to music, television and movies. It's now seen as art, and brands would be silly not to get involved with such a booming industry.'

This is first in the two-part series. You can watch the first part of the digital panel here.

This article is about:

Bidstack is the leading in-game advertising platform. We bridge the gap between game developers and advertisers by enhancing the gaming experience with real-world ads. We unlock gaming for advertisers..

Join us, it's free.

Become a member to get access to:

• Exclusive Content
• Daily and specialised newsletters
• Research and analysis

Gambling As Entertainment App

Are you or a loved one dealing with a gambling problem? Explore the warning signs and symptoms and learn how to stop.

What is gambling addiction and problem gambling?

Gambling problems can happen to anyone from any walk of life. Your gambling goes from a fun, harmless diversion to an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. Whether you bet on sports, scratch cards, roulette, poker, or slots—in a casino, at the track, or online—a gambling problem can strain your relationships, interfere with work, and lead to financial disaster. You may even do things you never thought you would, like running up huge debts or even stealing money to gamble.

Gambling addiction—also known as pathological gambling, compulsive gambling or gambling disorder—is an impulse-control disorder. If you're a compulsive gambler, you can't control the impulse to gamble, even when it has negative consequences for you or your loved ones. Hollywood casino slot machines. You'll gamble whether you're up or down, broke or flush, and you'll keep gambling regardless of the consequences—even when you know that the odds are against you or you can't afford to lose.

Of course, you can also have a gambling problem without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that disrupts your life. If you're preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences in your life, you have a gambling problem.

A gambling addiction or problem is often associated with other behavior or mood disorders. Many problem gamblers also suffer with substance abuse issues, unmanaged ADHD, stress, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. To overcome your gambling problems, you'll also need to address these and any other underlying causes as well.

Although it may feel like you're powerless to stop gambling, there are plenty of things you can do to overcome the problem, repair your relationships and finances, and finally regain control of your life.
The first step is to separate the myths from the facts about gambling problems:

Gambling addiction signs and symptoms

Gambling addiction is sometimes referred to as a 'hidden illness' because there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms like there are in drug or alcohol addiction. Problem gamblers also typically deny or minimize the problem—even to themselves. However, you may have a gambling problem if you:

Feel the need to be secretive about your gambling. You might gamble in secret or lie about how much you gamble, feeling others won't understand or that you will surprise them with a big win.

Have trouble controlling your gambling. Once you start gambling, can you walk away? Or are you compelled to gamble until you've spent your last dollar, upping your bets in a bid to win lost money back?

Gamble even when you don't have the money. You may gamble until you've spent your last dollar, and then move on to money you don't have—money to pay bills, credit cards, or things for your children. You may feel pushed to borrow, sell, or even steal things for gambling money.

Have family and friends worried about you. Denial keeps problem gambling going. If friends and family are worried, listen to them carefully. It's not a sign of weakness to ask for help. Many older gamblers are reluctant to reach out to their adult children if they've gambled away their inheritance, but it's never too late to make changes for the better.

Self-help for gambling problems

The biggest step to overcoming a gambling addiction is realizing that you have a problem. It takes tremendous strength and courage to own up to this, especially if you have lost a lot of money and strained or broken relationships along the way. Don't despair, and don't try to go it alone. Many others have been in your shoes and have been able to break the habit and rebuild their lives. You can, too.

Learn to relieve unpleasant feelings in healthier ways. Do you gamble when you're lonely or bored? Or after a stressful day at work or following an argument with your spouse? Gambling may be a way to self-soothe unpleasant emotions, unwind, or socialize. But there are healthier and more effective ways of managing your moods and relieving boredom, such as exercising, spending time with friends who don't gamble, taking up new hobbies, or practicing relaxation techniques.

Strengthen your support network. It's tough to battle any addiction without support, so reach out to friends and family. If your support network is limited, there are ways to make new friends without relying on visiting casinos or gambling online. Try reaching out to colleagues at work, joining a sports team or book club, enrolling in an education class, or volunteering for a good cause.

Join a peer support group. Gamblers Anonymous, for example, is a 12-step recovery program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous. A key part of the program is finding a sponsor, a former gambler who has experience remaining free from addiction and can provide you invaluable guidance and support.

Gambling As Entertainment Companies

Seek help for underlying mood disorders.Depression, stress, substance abuse, or anxiety can both trigger gambling problems and be made worse by compulsive gambling. Even when gambling is no longer a part of your life, these problems will still remain, so it's important to address them.

How to stop gambling for good

Gambling As Entertainment Websites

For many problem gamblers, it's not quitting gambling that's the biggest challenge, but rather staying in recovery—making a permanent commitment to stay away from gambling. The Internet has made gambling far more accessible and, therefore, harder for recovering addicts to avoid relapse. Online casinos and bookmakers are open all day, every day for anyone with a smartphone or access to a computer. But maintaining recovery from gambling addiction or problem gambling is still possible if you surround yourself with people to whom you're accountable, avoid tempting environments and websites, give up control of your finances (at least at first), and find healthier activities to replace gambling in your life.

Making healthier choices

One way to stop gambling is to remove the elements necessary for gambling to occur in your life and replace them with healthier choices. The four elements needed for gambling to continue are:

A decision: For gambling to happen, you need to make the decision to gamble. If you have an urge: stop what you are doing and call someone, think about the consequences to your actions, tell yourself to stop thinking about gambling, and find something else to do immediately.

Money: Gambling cannot occur without money. Get rid of your credit cards, let someone else be in charge of your money, have the bank make automatic payments for you, close online betting accounts, and keep only a limited amount of cash on you.

Time: Even online gambling cannot occur if you don't have the time. Schedule enjoyable recreational time for yourself that has nothing to do with gambling. If you're gambling on your smartphone, find other ways to fill the quiet moments during your day.

A game: Without a game or activity to bet on there is no opportunity to gamble. Don't put yourself in tempting environments. Tell gambling establishments you frequent that you have a gambling problem and ask them to restrict you from entering. Remove gambling apps and block gambling sites on your smartphone and computer.

Finding alternatives to gambling

Maintaining recovery from gambling addiction depends a lot on finding alternative behaviors you can substitute for gambling. Some examples include:

Dealing with gambling cravings

Feeling the urge to gamble is normal, but as you build healthier choices and a strong support network, resisting cravings will become easier. When a gambling craving strikes:

Avoid isolation. Call a trusted family member, meet a friend for coffee, or go to a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.

Postpone gambling. Tell yourself that you'll wait 5 minutes, fifteen minutes, or an hour. As you wait, the urge to gamble may pass or become weak enough to resist.

Visualize what will happen if you give in to the urge to gamble. Think about how you'll feel after all your money is gone and you've disappointed yourself and your family again.

Distract yourself with another activity, such as going to the gym, watching a movie, or practicing a relaxation exercise for gambling cravings.

Coping with lapses

If you aren't able to resist the gambling craving, don't be too hard on yourself or use it as an excuse to give up. Overcoming a gambling addiction is a tough process. You may slip from time to time; the important thing is to learn from your mistakes and continue working towards recovery.

Gambling addiction treatment

Overcoming a gambling problem is never easy and seeking professional treatment doesn't mean that you're weak in some way or can't handle your problems. But it's important to remember that every gambler is unique so you need a recovery program tailored specifically to your needs and situation. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional about different treatment options, including:

Inpatient or residential treatment and rehab programs. These are aimed at those with severe gambling addiction who are unable to avoid gambling without round-the-clock support.

Treatment for underlying conditions contributing to your compulsive gambling, including substance abuse or mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, OCD, or ADHD. This could include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Problem gambling can sometimes be a symptom of bipolar disorder, so your doctor or therapist may need to rule this out before making a diagnosis.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy. CBT for gambling addiction focuses on changing unhealthy gambling behaviors and thoughts, such as rationalizations and false beliefs. It can also teach you how to fight gambling urges and solve financial, work, and relationship problems caused by problem gambling. Therapy can provide you with the tools for coping with your addiction that will last a lifetime.

Family therapy and marriage, career, and credit counseling. These can help you work through the specific issues that have been created by your problem gambling and lay the foundation for repairing your relationships and finances.

Gambling As Entertainment Movie

How to help someone stop gambling

If your loved one has a gambling problem, you likely have many conflicting emotions. You may have spent a lot of time and energy trying to keep your loved one from gambling or having to cover for them. At the same time, you might be furious at your loved one for gambling again and tired of trying to keep up the charade. Your loved one may have borrowed or even stolen money with no way to pay it back. They may have sold family possessions or run up huge debts on joint credit cards.

While compulsive and problem gamblers need the support of their family and friends to help them in their struggle to stop gambling, the decision to quit has to be theirs. As much as you may want to, and as hard as it is seeing the effects, you cannot make someone stop gambling. However, you can encourage them to seek help, support them in their efforts, protect yourself, and take any talk of suicide seriously.

Preventing suicide in problem gamblers

When faced with the consequences of their actions, problem gamblers can suffer a crushing drop in self-esteem. This is one reason why there is a high rate of suicide among compulsive gamblers. If you suspect your loved one is feeling suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. at 1-800-273-8255 or visit Befrienders Worldwide to find a suicide helpline in your country.

Four tips for family members:

1. Start by helping yourself. You have a right to protect yourself emotionally and financially. Don't blame yourself for the gambler's problems or let his or her addiction dominate your life. Ignoring your own needs can be a recipe for burnout.
2. Don't go it alone. It can feel so overwhelming coping with a loved one's gambling addiction that it may seem easier to rationalize their requests 'this one last time.' Or you might feel ashamed, feeling like you are the only one who has problems like this. Reaching out for support will make you realize that many families have struggled with this problem.
3. Set boundaries in managing money. To ensure the gambler stays accountable and to prevent relapse, consider taking over the family finances. However, this does not mean you are responsible for micromanaging the problem gambler's impulses to gamble. Your first responsibilities are to ensure that your own finances and credit are not at risk.
4. Consider how you will handle requests for money. Problem gamblers often become very good at asking for money, either directly or indirectly. They may use pleading, manipulation, or even threats to get it. It takes practice to ensure you are not enabling your loved one's gambling addiction.