The centuries-old Gaming industry has emerged from hidden, often dodgy buildings to the open street where its iconic buildings and flashing neon signs welcome visitors to a game of Poker or test their luck on a slot-machine. Designed for the wealthy, Gaming is a fast-expanding global phenomenon with gaming zones spread across the world from Vegas to Macau. Nicknamed ‘Vegas of the East’, Macau is the only place in China where gambling is illegal.
Beyond the grandiosity of casinos like Macau’s Galaxy Privilege Club and the thrills of uncertainty, gambling has been recognized as potentially dangerous sport with many falling prey to its addictive charms. Gambling is based on luck and chance rather than skill which render gamblers helpless in the outcomes of the games. Games such as Roulette, Baccarat, slot machines and lotteries thrive on the feeling of ‘getting lucky’, so that a player continues to play to see how far he can make gains or recover money lost from a previous failed bet. This mentality prompts players to continue playing for longer periods, make larger bets where at the end of the game the players often lose more money than anticipated.
The wide-spread gambling industry has raised the issue of ‘problem gambling’ and casinos are encouraged to raise awareness of the psychological and social ill-effects of excessive gambling, facilitate responsible gaming and prevent underage gaming. Today, many casinos offer customer-care facilities that warn gamblers of the dangers of gaming addiction and offer tips on playing responsibly. Awareness is paramount in minimising gambling losses and players are advised to learn the rules of Blackjack and Poker where players’ skills can be applied limitedly while refraining from consuming liquor and emotional stability help prevent careless decision making. Gambling should be viewed as entertainment and not as a viable income-generating source and players are advised to have a pre-determined limit to the time and money spent on a game. To avoid a debt crisis, players are advised to not gamble their borrowings and chasing losses as the likelihood of profiting from a night-long betting game is limited.
Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Fritzjames Stephen. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.
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