This is the ultimate case study on how people gamble based on marital status.
We’ve spent time researching dozens of research papers and confessions from gamblers.
Our main goal? Trying to understand exactly if any factors influence our gambling behaviour or help us prevent becoming addicted to casino games.
It seems that single people tend to gamble more than married individuals because of loneliness. Also, the belief that most gamblers are male is false, even though most calls made to problem gambling institutions come from female spouses looking to help their husbands.
Let’s dive right in.
The four main reasons why people gamble
Before we begin comparing single and married gamblers, you need to consider the four main reasons people gamble.
Here they are:
- Escapism – whether you gamble online or in a physical location, the casino is a great way to “escape reality.” We all have busy and stressful lives, so we need the entertainment to avoid falling into depression. Although the colourful and luxurious gambling environment may seem like the ideal place to escape our routine, it can be dangerous if you don’t stay in control of your gambling.
- Glitz and glamour – We often associate gambling with a glamorous lifestyle, mainly thanks to how pop culture presents it to us in movies and TV shows. While the glitz is indeed part of any luxurious casino’s branding, remember that the “high society” myths presented in the media are not exactly for everyone. So, unless you’re a high roller, you should avoid going to the casino just to be seen as an “important individual” because that’s not how it works.
- Social – Gambling is a socially accepted activity mainly thanks to the ability to play with or against your friends. Don’t get us wrong, a night out at the poker club with your peers can be entertaining from time to time. However, we advise you to avoid going to the casino with your friends all the time since this behaviour can quickly turn into an addiction and potentially ruin your friendships.
- Taking risks – Any activity that involves risk can be considered a form of gambling. It’s in our nature to make risky moves hoping to make our lives better (i.e., winning a large sum gambling). Still, you can’t beat the house all the time. While successfully taking a risk can bring you a considerable dopamine reward, it shouldn’t become a regular thing. Take some risks, get your dopamine fix and leave the casino while you’re still making a profit.
The key takeaway?
Casino games don’t have a low-risk, high-return model as most gamblers think. The house always has an advantage over the players.
So, even though that $1 million jackpot seems attractive, remember that your odds of winning it are extremely low. The whole idea of gambling is to have fun, not lose all your money trying to get a large payout or recover your losses.
Now that you understand the basics of gambling psychology, it’s time to explore the main differences between single and married and see if there is any correlation between marital status and time spent in the casino.
Single vs Married – Who gambles more?
An official study from Cambridge has finally shed some light regarding the influence of marital status on gambling frequency.
Here are the key takeaways from the research data from a random sample of gamblers from Ontario:
- Unpartnered adults tend to gamble more out of loneliness
- Married adults enjoy social gambling and are less likely to become addicts
This research shows that your marital status influences how you gamble, but not in the way you would expect.
Simply put, if you’re single, you are more likely to develop a gambling problem because you’re lonely. Also, if you’re married, you are more prone to become a casual gambler that views the casino as a form of entertainment.
So, what can gambling addiction centers learn from this Cambridge study?
Your social status greatly influences problem gambling. If you don’t have any friends or people to talk to, you are more likely to go for an extended casino session just to get your dopamine fix.
Therefore, prevention centers should find a way to lower social isolation and offer them alternative forms of entertainment that can help them deal with loneliness by interacting with other people. Arcades are considered the closest match to the casino, but only time will tell the most optimal alternative for dealing with addiction.
Please note: This research study is not definitive. Cambridge psychologists have not yet found the exact correlation between marital status and gambling, but they’ve already made considerable progress.
Can gambling be fun if you’re married
Yes. Based on our findings, many married couples enjoy a casino session together from time to time.
For example, Sam and Diane have been happily married for ten years, and they are both poker hobbyists. Occasionally they visit the poker room together just to have fun.
They claim that they enjoy their poker nights even if they both lose because they learn new strategies that will help them perform better next time. Their secret to avoid becoming compulsive gamblers is to set a budget in advance and stick to it every time.
If you decide to gamble with your spouse, you need to understand how gender influences our gambling behaviour. Expert studies have shown that women tend to manage the bankroll, while men are great at dealing with risks.
So, gambling can be a fun couple activity.
That’s because going together to the casino is a great way to spend a night out. Since the gambling abilities of both genders go hand in hand ( risk-taking and money management), playing casino games together can strengthen your relationship.
That’s true unless you are transparent about your casino activity. However, hiding gambling from your spouse can negatively impact your relationship and even result in separation.
The impacts of problem gambling on families
Transparency is the secret of any successful relationship.
Therefore, if you’re a compulsive gambler and feel the urge to gamble money that you can’t afford to lose, you should immediately tell your spouse.
This way, you will ensure that they acknowledge your issue and helps you deal with it. Also, by mentioning your gambling cravings, you accept that you have a problem, which is an excellent step towards solving addiction.
Still, compulsive gamblers are often out of control. They tend to hide their casino activity from their spouse and borrow money when they run out. However, hiding and lying about your addiction won’t work forever.
Gambling addiction almost always leads to financial ruin and, in many cases, divorce. That’s why you should be transparent about going to the casino and ask your partner for help if you can’t keep it under control.
The bottom line
We hope that this analysis of how people gamble depending on their marital status has shed some light on gambling addiction’s influence on relationships.
Now, we would like to hear from you:
Have you ever met someone that was addicted to gambling? Or maybe you are a compulsive gambler yourself.
Either way, you can let us know your gambling story by leaving a comment below right now.
