The recent study has found that for those who indulge in casino games such as roulette, craps and blackjack, it takes on average 2.8 years to become fully hooked on it. Playing lottery games such as Keno and scratch tickets and video slots takes about 1.9 years to become addicted.
The number of compulsive gamblers ranges from 1 to 3 percent for adults, but the proximity of casino, doubles that number. Following this statistics, Rhode Island shelters approximately 30,000 adult individuals who are addicted to gambling.
The director of the Rhode Island Gambling Treatment Program, Dr. Robert Breen contended that slot machines are bound to accelerate the gambling addiction process, leaving the roulette and other forms of casino games far behind. Interestingly enough, the speed of the game was found to be one of the key variables impacting the addiction. Breen said that the slower the game is, the longer it takes to become addicted. The hectic pave of the game and the allusion of "near wins", which is quite deceptive seem to add to the adrenaline rush. In this sense, the game of roulette which is normally administered at land-based casinos is more "safe" than video slots, lacking the "near win" motivation that makes gamblers to keep on trying.
In reality, "near wins" do not alter the odds and the winning is set by a randomized number generator. Infusion of more video machines may not only instigate more experienced gamblers but also those who would not normally take up on gambling.
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