There are many types of addictions but one of the most destructive is gambling. Gambling addicts have resorted to thieving, lying and incurred massive financial and physical debts in order to feed their addiction. Most shocking of all, gambling is legal in most parts of the world.Many people say that it’s quite easy to become addicted to gambling, especially with the ease and anonymity that online Internet gaming sites now offer. These days, you don’t even need to trek to the local bookies to make your bet. You can do it all from the comfort of your home and at a time to suite you, 24hours a day.Current smartphones make it even easier to place and make bets because you don’t even need to be in front of a computer.To be fair, gambling is widespread. Many people gamble and have placed small bets on the Superbowl, the World Cup Finals, the World Series, the Grand National or the FA Cup. Indeed, lots of people all over the world play the lottery. This is the acceptable face of gambling. But there is a dark and destructive aspect to gambling that forms into a powerful addiction that can be completely devastating.So if gambling is legal and so widespread, why isn’t everyone addicted? Because most people know when to quit and go home! Gambling doesn’t have to be addictive. You need strong self-control and an instinct to know when to stop. You need to have much more important things to do and think about in your life.Nature abhors a vacuum. Gambling fills a need in the addicts life. It’s a substitute for something that’s missing in their daily existence. Compulsive gamblers have lost all rationality along the way and are convinced that ‘luck’ is with them. Logic and sanity have been thrown out of the window.You should know that gambling is an EXACT science! In the the end, the gambling addict always loses. It was designed that way. The ‘house’ eventually always wins to make profits for its owners and shareholders.Even if you gamble for fun and not for money, it may not be as harmless as you want to think! You must be on your guard at all times or it could be just a matter of time before you fall into an addiction. A single large win could be the one powerful trigger that pushes you over. You’ll start to believe that you’re ‘lucky’ or a ‘smart gambler’. This is the wrong mindset and will lead to trouble.If you get the urge to gamble, ask a close friend or a family member to play in a low-risk game that does not involve money. The bet could be take out the garbage or do the weekly shopping or walk the dog.Online gambling sites will try to lure you into becoming a member by offering you ‘free’ gambling or ‘just for fun’ demonstrations where you bet with ‘play money’ rather than real cash. DON’T be seduced into this madness! If you have strong impulses to gamble, this ‘play mode’ could eventually develop into a real addiction that involves real money.If you fear that you have an addiction you must seek out professional help in combating it. Search out share groups in your community who are there to help you with your addiction. Gambling is an addiction that is curable and many former gamblers have gone on to lead normal and fulfilling lives.As with everything in life, it comes down to choice. You are where you are in life because of the choices that you made along the way. Each choice that you made led you along a certain path that has resulted in the position you find yourself in today.No one can force you to gamble. Gambling is your choice. You don’t have to gamble to have a good time. You can choose NOT to gamble. Remember, prevention is better than cure.

Human beings have engaged in betting since antiquity. For a long time gambling was an activity that took place only in exclusive casinos. Not everyone could afford or access these places. Online gambling, which became a reality around 1995, allowed gambling to be a past time for many more people. Software that simulates games of chance had been in existence for a while. The use of internet became common place and inexpensive and was crucial to the establishment of gambling websites. Another necessary factor was the mechanism to make and receive payments online in a secure manner. The final piece of the jigsaw puzzle was the creation of authorities that licensed and regulated gambling operators.Once gambling websites were established around 1995 they began to proliferate quickly. The period 2000 to 2006 was a boom time for the online gambling industry. This is because online gambling offers many advantages over land based gambling. The biggest advantage is that players can engage in online gambling from home. All that they need is a home computer or lap top with an Internet connection. Players no longer have to spend money to travel to the casinoNo spending time and money to travel to casinos or going on holidays to Las Vegas. Players can come home and immediately log on to their favorite online gambling site.Online gambling is exceptionally convenient for people who are afraid of posh casinos, with well dressed staff efficiently conducting operations and knowledgeable players who are proficient at the art and science of gambling. Internet gambling is an anonymous activity. Many of these games are played solo with the online casino software. Even in multiple player games there is no need to be face to face with other players. Most of players use nicknames and no one need know from which part of the world they are from. They can make their mistakes without fear of being made fun of and can learn the ropes at their own rate without worrying about losing a lot of money. And formal dressing can be dispensed with.Another major advantage of gambling websites is that it delivers greater average returns to the player. The costs involved in setting up and operating internet gambling sites is much lower than that for land casinos. Because there is no real estate, there are no expensive buildings and minimal staff to pay. Thus making gambling sites do not need to make a lot of money to cover their costs and provide a return to their owners. Because of the competition in the online gambling industry, the savings are handed on to the players in the form of larger average returns. This is particularly evident in online slots where the average return is around 95%. Where as land based slots the average return may be well below 90%.Online gambling today covers a wide range of product verticals. Sports betting can be conducted online. Players have access to the most current odds and can even engage in live betting through online gambling. Poker is yet another well-liked form of gambling. Players can play both fast cash games and in online tournaments. Online casinos offer gambling on blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, video poker, online slots and other games. Other forms of online gambling can include bingo and financial betting.