The documentaries, by Alex Conrad and Louis Theroux, were similar and different in many ways. Alex Conrad’s documentary was based on problem gamblers who have suffered a great financial loss that has affected their livelihood. In Southern Nevada (Las Vegas) the amount of bankruptcy debt losses and civil court costs at $10,000 per pathological gambler (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). According to the National Council on Problem Gambling (2009), about 85% of adults, living in America, have gambled at least once in their lives, and 6-9 million adults (3%-4%) in America have problems with gambling (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). I was shocked to learn that UK is the only country in the world that allows children to gamble up to 5 Pounds. The facts tell us
…show more content…
They all hate themselves for gambling and losing money. Most of them stated that they would die if they do not stop. Nevada is one of the top five states in the country for having the highest suicide rates (Sawe, 2016). Gambling problems cannot be associated to be the primary cause of suicide, but it definitely is connected (Fisher & Harrison, 2017). Furthermore, Alex interviewed people who, similar to his father, were “compulsive gamblers”, and gambling was such an important aspect of their lives that they would even engage in illegal activities to get the money to gamble (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). It was interesting to learn how similar gambling addiction is in comparison to addiction to alcohol or other drugs. With alcohol and other drugs, people are introducing substances into their body that results in the biological and chemical change in ones body, but with gambling, no substance enters the body yet researchers have found similar changes occurring in the brain during gambling as when alcohol or other drugs are ingested (Fisher & Harrison, …show more content…
It was difficult for me to place them within Custer’s “six types of gamblers”. They all seemed to be “casual social gamblers” who were visiting Las Vegas to gamble as a recreational activity (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). The retired doctor seemed to fit under the type “relief-and-escape gambler”. She believed that she was not addicted to gambling and indulged in it because she enjoyed the habit as an activity; however, I thought that she was in denial. She mentioned losing over $4 million dollars in the past 7 years, and her house was filled with boxes cluttered everywhere. To me those signs were alarming. I was also shocked to see the interview with the homeless couple who were living in a tunnel near the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. Clearly, the man was a “compulsive gambler” as he was preoccupied with gambling and with getting money to gamble (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). He wandered all day looking for a dropped chip or leftover balance in a slot that he could use to gamble. He was “chasing” his losses as he believed that he will be able to win back the money he has lost (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). 20% of the homeless population in Las Vegas claimed to be homeless because of gambling problems (Fisher & Harrison,
They all hate themselves for gambling and losing money. Most of them stated that they would die if they do not stop. Nevada is one of the top five states in the country for having the highest suicide rates (Sawe, 2016). Gambling problems cannot be associated to be the primary cause of suicide, but it definitely is connected (Fisher & Harrison, 2017). Furthermore, Alex interviewed people who, similar to his father, were “compulsive gamblers”, and gambling was such an important aspect of their lives that they would even engage in illegal activities to get the money to gamble (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). It was interesting to learn how similar gambling addiction is in comparison to addiction to alcohol or other drugs. With alcohol and other drugs, people are introducing substances into their body that results in the biological and chemical change in ones body, but with gambling, no substance enters the body yet researchers have found similar changes occurring in the brain during gambling as when alcohol or other drugs are ingested (Fisher & Harrison, …show more content…
It was difficult for me to place them within Custer’s “six types of gamblers”. They all seemed to be “casual social gamblers” who were visiting Las Vegas to gamble as a recreational activity (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). The retired doctor seemed to fit under the type “relief-and-escape gambler”. She believed that she was not addicted to gambling and indulged in it because she enjoyed the habit as an activity; however, I thought that she was in denial. She mentioned losing over $4 million dollars in the past 7 years, and her house was filled with boxes cluttered everywhere. To me those signs were alarming. I was also shocked to see the interview with the homeless couple who were living in a tunnel near the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign. Clearly, the man was a “compulsive gambler” as he was preoccupied with gambling and with getting money to gamble (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). He wandered all day looking for a dropped chip or leftover balance in a slot that he could use to gamble. He was “chasing” his losses as he believed that he will be able to win back the money he has lost (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). 20% of the homeless population in Las Vegas claimed to be homeless because of gambling problems (Fisher & Harrison,