How big a problem is sports betting and other gambling to the health of the force?

2015-05-19T09:39:36-04:00

Sports betting. Poker. Casinos. Gambling in general. How big of a problem is gambling to the morale and health of the line units? The force in general? What about bingo halls on post? Is this a form of legal gambling? As a Chaplain, I have had a few Soldiers come to me with a gambling problem, but I knew of many more who could have used some guidance, as they couldn't wait to get paid so they could gamble. They would often be wiped out and run into financial difficulties as a result. Several of these would find themselves selling their plasma off post in order to pay the bills, or gamble some more. What are your thoughts?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 9:40 AM

2015-05-19T09:40:50-04:00

I have never had any Soldiers with this issue so to me it is not a big issue.

Response by SGT David T. made May 19 at 2015 10:08 AM

2015-05-19T10:08:19-04:00

Gambling like most vices isn't a problem if done responsibility and in moderation. It is when the individual takes it to excess that it becomes a problem. In my time in the Army, I only ran across a handful with this problem and it destroyed their families as a result. I have seen Soldiers sell plasma to buy beer, and I may have done it once or twice as a young Private lol.

Response by SPC Nate Lamphier made May 19 at 2015 10:10 AM

2015-05-19T10:10:47-04:00

I have never worked with anyone who had a gambling problem that I knew about. Being stationed at Fort Riley we did have a casino that was around 90 minutes away....which I did make my rounds to. However, I went in with a budget and an attitude to have a good time. If I lost, well, I was expecting to lose while again, having a good time.

I served with way more individuals who had issues with alcohol.

Response by SGT James Allen made May 19 at 2015 10:45 AM

2015-05-19T10:45:53-04:00

I don't think it's the gambling that is the root cause of the problem, it's a behavioral issue. It could just as easily be drugs or alcohol. They are looking for a "high", and gambling can provide that. I would guess that there are also many soldiers that spend all of their money in bars and are broke for the rest of the month.
I am a gambler (on horses) but it is a hobby of mine. I only play when I can afford to and I see an opportunity where I can put the odds in my favor. It's takes many hours of work to do this, but it's one of the few games out there where it is a possibility. All of the other games are stacked against you.
In theory, I could take a problem gambler and teach them how to win, and so by most people's standards, he/she would no longer have a gambling problem. In reality this wouldn't work because they are playing for a different reason than I am, and would never put the work into it that winning consistently requires. They are compulsive and just looking for that "high".
I wish you luck sir, and I hope that you can help them.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 11:52 AM

2015-05-19T11:52:51-04:00

So outlaw sports betting......then what.....a gambler (someone with a true problem) will find something to bet on. The issue is not "Sports Gambling" it's people who exhibit the addictive behavior an gambler. We need to put as much effort into educating people one the dangers of this as we do alcohol consumption. Again the problem is not gambling or alcohol.....it's the addictive behavior exhibited by the addicts. Just my two cents.

Response by Samuel Richards made Nov 21 at 2021 4:20 PM

2021-11-21T16:20:06-05:00

I think. what to really earn on betting

Response by AB Marni First made Mar 21 at 2024 5:46 AM

2024-03-21T05:46:55-04:00

You know, I personally believe that if the correct initial approach to the game, then you can win even very large sums, I initially also bet randomly, but then came to my senses, developed my own strategy on https://aviatorgame-india.com/ crash aviator and only now I really started every night to come out in the plus, a little more experience will pick up and in general you can perceive the casino as the main earnings

Aviator game | aviatorgame-india.com

The Aviator has been available online since 2019. It is a new type of social multiplayer game. As soon as you start the game, a plane will start to fly higher before eventually crashing. The goal is straightforward: withdraw your earnings before the plane crashes or takes off.