The pace at which society keeps evolving can at times be breath-taking. Such rapid evolution leads to the blurring of the lines between what is moral and amoral. In the days that we live in, what is right and wrong has tended to become a matter of personal judgement rather than an expected norm. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of following what the masses are engaged in to the extent that one ends up creating his or her own questionable ethics.
In this two piece article, I intend to focus my discussion on the issue of gambling. I intend to generate a debate by my observation and hope that that the readers make up their minds on the acceptability or otherwise of the subject matter. Do I expect my audience to have a consensus ad idem in relation to my views? Certainly not! Do I foresee a debate ensuing? Absolutely yes!
Gambling may be referred to as the act of playing a game of chance for money or simply put betting. Gambleaware.co.uk makes mention of the following types of gambling that may be observed amongst others;
• Betting: A bet is a gamble in which a player stakes money on the outcome of an event, for example, who will win the World Cup or a general election.
• Bingo: Bingo is a game of chance where players receive a set of numbers on a card in return for a stake and they mark them off as a caller announces numbers as they are drawn randomly.
• Casino games: Casino games include table, card and machine games played in a casino. They involve playing or staking against a bank. Traditional casino games include roulette, blackjack and poker.
• Gaming machines: Fruit machines, fixed odds betting terminals, slot machines, pusher and crane grab machines are all gaming machines. The player generally wins by matching the symbols, usually fruit, on the central line of three reels.
• Lotteries: A lottery is a game which people enter by selecting a set of numbers that may match those drawn later for the chance of winning money or prizes.
• Pools: In pools betting, players ‘pool’ their stakes and the combined sum, less what the operator takes out, is divided between the winning participants.
• Spread betting: Spread betting allows people to bet on sporting events, politics or stock market movements.

Being stood at a lottery retailing counter, right in the middle of Bradford Shopping Centre (UK), I observed people from diverse backgrounds come and play and go. Although I was aware that gambling is very much practised in the UK, what seemed to baffle me was how conspicuously this gambling was being carried out. There was no need to hide and gamble in the confines of a secluded enclosure. It was so acceptable. The counter was in the full glare of the public with nothing to hide away its patrons.
To get the chance to observe human behaviour, I told the gormless attendant that I needed motivation to play. She enjoyed talking to me and even thought I was a mystery shopper. To that I just smiled. What fascinated me was noticing and coming so close to the insatiable desire of humankind to get rich. Avarice kept on being displayed by the young and old as well as strong and frail alike. The quest to get rich was palpably demonstrated beyond any shadow of doubt. Both Muslims as well as Christians not to talk about other religions were passionately playing with the hope to win.
It was quite funny how people scratched the cards. Some scratched it so hard it depicted a picture of a straight dash to get out of poverty. For some, they scratched it so slowly to make you believe they knew they were not going to win and as such, they were willing to digest the news in a very gentle way. I even wondered whether such people scratching the cards in an unusually slow manner, were majestically taking their final steps to sever ties with penury.
Well, for me, seeing the potential winnings that I could have and the impact on my life made me feel like having a go. Yet I was not motivated to try given obvious circumstances. At times, it was funny and at others it was downright bizarre how people reacted to finding out they had won nothing. Occasionally, the odd person may win a pound or two and straight away use it to buy another scratch card. My observations were so interesting I occasionally gave a smile in acknowledgement of the risible behaviour of mankind.
I thought my time at the counter had been worth every minute and decided to write my observation using my phone. Are you wondering whether I staked or bought any ticket? Let me get you out of your doubts. The power and lure of gambling is very strong. Like all addictions, you either have it under control or you don't. Was I not tempted to think of what for example a £100,000 or £1m could do to my life in a recession like this? Surely, the thoughts run through my mind. Did I fall for it? Absolutely not!
I kept telling the gawky attendant that I was not motivated to stake. I even quipped about a particular guy who was so bent on winning judging from the uncountable number of times he had played, yet with no takings. To this the young attendant replied that he was getting there. I burst out uncontrollably with laughter. This gentleman changed location numerous times as if to suggest that where you stood to scratch the card determined whether you won or lost. It was superstition personified in my view.
I did observe that whereas some punters stood right at the counter and scratched their cards, others chose to walk away after their purchase. Interestingly enough, some of these people returned a few minutes after for more purchases. I worked out that they were minimising their losses. It did appear to me that they felt it was better to move away from the counter as a way of self-discipline to stop them repeatedly staking. It came as a surprise to me when a number of those people I noticed walking away from the counter returned for more purchases. The question of whether gambling was an addiction or a choice suddenly came to the fore.
Still observing, I looked at the small print behind the scratch cards and noticed that there was a phone number to ring if you felt you were playing “too much”. In a contrarian disposition, the attendant actually kept asking people if they wanted more tickets. She was subtly urging the punters to keep trying in the vain hope that they may win on the next try. Suffice to say that the attendant herself admitted to me that she does not play. Hmmm....that reminded me of the popular Ghanaian TV advert many years back where a curious lotto staker quizzed the lotto doctor, “so why is the lotto doctor not rich?” to which he replied “he’s a good Samaritan, that’s why!” What an irony! I wondered why she kept encouraging the people to keep staking then. To her, that was a job she had to do. In another abstruse admission, she confessed to being excited when she saw people win. My question then was why she herself refrained from playing. To this she just smiled and moved on to serve the next punter.
There were times when the queue kept getting longer and longer I wondered whether that was the quickest and safest way to become a millionaire. I kept asking myself what was driving and urging these people on that didn’t seem to have control over me. Did these people know something that I didn’t? Was I missing out on a golden chance? Numerous questions kept running through my mind for which I did not have explicit answers to.
At a point, I had seen enough and resolved rather to go to the City and rub shoulders with the big dealmakers. In my view, I had a far better chance of making a million there than staking the lottery.
I would leave you to make up your mind about gambling: is it an addiction or a choice? I dare go further to ask whether it’s even hereditary or a sport. I would return to conclude this interesting piece with where I stand on the issue. By that time, I am sure you would have definitely made up your mind on the subject. All thoughts, opinions, suggestions and criticisms can be forwarded to the email address provided below.
In part 2, I intend to explore what I believe are obvious circumstances why people either choose to gamble or not as well as a way out if any for those inextricably entangled in this act for whom the way out has proven to be a maze. I hope the ideas I intend to enunciate proves to be a real succour.
Credit: Dr. Frank Robert Silverson