Young Adults Are Prone to Gambling Addictions

This writer can understand how a young adult can become easily addicted to gambling. By first hand experience, I have been bought by casino advertisements and gimmicks that lead me to gambling cravings. One of the main problems in our society is that gambling isn't really seen as a problem. Instead, young adults seem to be rewarded with gambling. At some high schools and colleges they have Vegas night where there are blackjack tables, and crap tables set up. Students are then given fake money to gamble and win prizes at the end of the night. Influencing young adults to gamble can lead to gambling addictions and hard earn money going to waste. During the past year I have learned from mistakes and past lessons with casinos. Casinos advertise a lot and offer freebies like meals, or a chance to win money. These advertisements defiantly have an impact on young adults because we can be easily bought by freebies. Then, once you're inside the door the casinos usually win because they know that you're going to spend some kind of money.

Young adults usually are addicted to black jack or poker because the odds seem a little better. The truth is that the odds are usually in favor of the casino. Usually, when you play cards at a casino you will probably lose more than winning. However, what got me addicted were slot machines. Slot machines can really get young adults addicted to gambling. One reason is that slot machines resemble video games and some have cartoons on them. Another reason that young adults may get a gambling problem is because of the perks of getting older. In certain states like California the gambling age is 18 on Indian reservations. When young adults turn 18 their first thought may be, "I'm old enough to go to a casino and gamble." This can be dangerous because once an addiction forms it usually just gets worse and worse.

For young adults, it may ruin their life at an early age. Some young gamblers may spend their tuition money and waste it on gambling, or what's even worse is using credit cards to gamble. Many young adults have credit cards and by gambling with them they create bigger debts that they may have to pay until they are middle aged. By young adults having big debts at a young age and not being able to repay them would ruin any chance of good credit.

Without good credit they wouldn't be able to purchase a car or a house. That is why many young adults who go to casinos a lot should try to get help. Gamblers Anonymous is an organization that offers help and support to all people who may have a gambling problem. One of GA's goals is to decrease the number of young adult gamblers and offer them more info on the consequences of gambling. Young adults should know that although gambling may be recreational and fun, it can also be an addiction that can ruin a person's life and finances.