Clear up the misconceptions

As is the case with many addictions, gambling has many myths surrounding it.
Make sure you know fact from fiction.

1. What is problem gambling?
A problem gambler, as understood by the NRGP, is anyone who spends so much money and/or time gambling that they do significant harm to themselves or to others.

Typically excessive gambling causes them problems at home or at work and is threatening their financial security. To finance their gambling they borrow money which they cannot easily pay back and they spend money on gambling which should be spent on personal and household necessities.

The NRGP believes that, with appropriate education, people can be prevented from developing these kinds of problems with gambling and that appropriate counselling will enable those who do develop such problems to overcome them.

In addition to these excessive gamblers there is a very small proportion of gamblers who become gambling addicts. They behave like other addicts and think about gambling obsessively in the same way as people addicted to drink, drugs or food think about the object of their addiction. They also constantly try to control their addiction and fail.
Gambling addicts are rarer than the other sorts of addict but the NRGP treatment programme caters for such people as well as for those who are simply gambling significantly more than they can afford.

2. Is someone who gambles a lot a compulsive gambler?
Not necessarily. Many of those who gamble frequently are simply people who enjoy gambling as entertainment. Generally these people set aside a predetermined sum of money for gambling, gamble for 'fun', rather than for the 'certainty' of winning, recognise that they are likely to lose, and don't bet more money that they can afford to lose.

3. Can someone have a gambling problem, without being a compulsive gambler?
Yes. Just as it is possible to abuse alcohol without being an alcoholic, someone can go out and lose a lot of money gambling, for example, without being addicted. Often this sort of problem resolves itself without professional intervention. Whether or not someone is a compulsive gambler, depends on both the severity and frequency of the problem.

4. Is it very shameful to admit to having a gambling problem?
No. Problem gambling is like a disease. It is not your fault if you contract it, but it is your responsibility to do something sensible about it. What is shameful, is to continue doing serious damage to yourself and your loved ones, and doing nothing about it.

Obviously, it is best if people can avoid the situation in which their gambling becomes uncontrollable. To do this, people need to be aware of the danger signals that can give them an early warning. They may then be able to take appropriate action without seeking help. One way of doing this is to approach a casino manager and ask that you be prevented from gambling at the casino. This is called self exclusion. Casinos managers can help you in this way.

5. Because I am quite well-off financially, educated and mature, does it mean that I can control my gambling?
Not necessarily. Anyone can become a problem gambler, regardless of age, race, religion, education, economic status and moral character. Problem gambling is like a disease that can affect anyone. Some people just seem to be unlucky in that they have an in-built tendency to develop problems with gambling, just as some people have a tendency to develop addictive problems with alcohol and other drugs.

6. Is there a link between problem gambling and chemical dependency?
Yes. In several studies approximately 40% of problem gamblers were found also to have drug or alcohol problems, while studies of people in treatment for substance abuse have found that between 10% and 30% also have a gambling problem. People may have both addictions simultaneously, or can switch from one addiction to another.

7. Can problem gamblers get help?
Yes. The National Responsible gambling Programme offers a Problem Gambling Counselling Line backed by professional counselling and treatment services in nearly 30 cities and towns in southern Africa. To find out more, go to Where to find help.

8. What are the odds of winning the Lotto?
One in 14 million. Every drawing of the winning numbers is an independent chance event. Past outcomes have no influence over the next outcome. It doesn't matter if you play the same or different numbers each time. The odds of winning are always the same. The odds of winning are not influenced by the number of tickets sold. So you do not increase your chances of winning by buying more than one lottery ticket!

9. Is it true that the longer a slot machine is played without a big win, the more likely it is to pay out next time?
Each spin of a slot machine produces a random number. While these may pay out a jackpot at apparently regular intervals, random numbers have no connection whatsoever with any previous sequence of numbers. The player has no better chance of winning the jackpot on a 'hot' machine - one that hasn't paid out for three weeks - than on a machine that paid out an hour ago. This means that nobody else can 'win your jackpot'.