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Editorials

Pathological gambling

BMJ 2017; 357 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j1593 (Published 05 April 2017) Cite this as: BMJ 2017;357:j1593

Rapid Response:

Beware of Gambling


Gambling is an addictive behavior and social lubricant that tricks and traps us by creating the fleeting euphoria of feeling lucky and rich, but the sustained sickness of being unlucky and poor. The euphoria of feeling lucky and rich, and the sickness of being unlucky and poor, are opposites that reinforce each other: the euphoria blinds us to the sickness; and the sickness makes us crave the euphoria. Perversely but predictably, gambling creates, aggravates, and perpetuates the very sickness of being unlucky and poor that it falsely seems to cure, thus placing lotteries and casinos, and their owners/sponsors, in a very bad light.


Competing interests: No competing interests

05 April 2017
Hugh Mann
Physician
Retired
New York, NY, USA