Roulette: Dangerous Addiction?

Most people are probably aware that gambling has the potential to become addictive at some level. Like all addictions, pathological gambling is considered a disease, but fortunately it is one that can be diagnosed and treated. Addiction to gaming can have several different causes, all of which resemble the reasons most often cited for substance abuse and addiction. In one, the gambler becomes hooked on the ‘rush’ of playing, perhaps after experiencing a large or particularly exciting win. The act of gambling then provides the player with a euphoric feeling that can only be satisfied with further playing, regardless of the financial or social consequences. In other cases, gambling can be used as an outlet to avoid dealing with a secondary problem. This type of addiction often manifests itself more on slot and video poker machines, which are considered particularly conducive to promoting gambling addictions.

Being a game of chance, and an exciting one at that, roulette certainly has the potential to promote addiction in some players. Due to its social nature and the possibility of a big win, roulette addiction would likely fall under the ‘rush of playing’ category. However, is there any proof that roulette is more addictive than other casino games, or that roulette addiction is particularly devastating? Two articles from 2005 published in the online edition of the Guardian – www.guardian.co.uk - would seem to suggest that this may be the case. In 2001, touch-screen roulette machines called fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) with payouts up £500 were introduced into betting shops. According to the first article, published in January of 2005, a charity that monitors gambling addiction known as GamCare reported that there appeared to be a connection between the popularity of the machines and calls to their helplines about gambling addiction. The later article, which came out in May of the same year, stated that about ¼ of GamCare’s first-time callers were calling with regards to the roulette FOBTs. Furthermore, the debt of these callers had risen dramatically, though it was not mentioned if the two were connected. Although this study cannot speak for the overall addiction rate of roulette compared to other casino games, it does appear that certain forms of roulette can become particularly addictive when made more easily accessible.