Can Gambling Make Us Healthier?
Gambling has been a popular pastime for centuries. From merchants in ancient China to royals at Habsburg courts, from people living in slums of Rio de Janeiro to affluent people at fancy casinos of Vegas, Macau, and Monte Carlo – everyone loves to gamble. This adrenaline-kicking hobby, however, is often ostracized as dangerous and harmful.
Authorities, regulators, and organizations that help problem gamblers are all united in a stance on how gambling should be prevented, but if you ask Polish gambling expert Aleksandra Maj (read more about her here), things are not as dark as they want them to be.
“Moderation, moderation, moderation! I will always raise my voice for responsible gaming but don’t expect me to diss a legit industry that provides a lot of fun to people all over the world,” she explains and adds, “It is important to stay objective. While irresponsible gaming can definitely be harmful, this activity can also help people improve their health.”
Social Aspect of Gaming
Maj says how gambling can have unexpected benefits, and as one of the best examples, she uses the social component of gambling. As Western societies become more and more individualistic and citizens get older at the same time, many people find themselves in the limb of solitude, especially those of the older generation.
Thanks to reasonable gambling, they can find friends with common interests and meet at betting shops, slot clubs, or bingo parlors to chit-chat and play. “Ask people in the UK how it’s done, and start there,” notices Maj and continues, “Elderly people all across the United Kingdom and Ireland fight boredom thanks to gambling communities. They make new friends, have lunch or a cup of tea, celebrate winnings together and keep each other company after a losing hand.”
She says that “kasyno z minimalnym depozytem” (or minimum deposit casinos) can be as important to elderlies as your favorite pub is to you. To a well-minded person in their 30s, this argument might seem like a lame excuse to justify gambling. Still, it is important to keep in mind that many smaller communities all over the world don’t have organized activities for elderlies, nor are people in their 70s and 80s invited to partake in social activities in their communities. This leaves them alone, lonely with deteriorating health, and limited contact with other people.
Improvements in Brain Plasticity
Another benefit of gambling is improvement in brain plasticity. To put it simply, the brain is an organ that needs regular workouts, otherwise, it will get lazy. This is true not only for people fighting dementia but for all generations. To keep the brain active, one has to expose it to different problems and circumstances, and every new hand played is a new opportunity to keep your grey cells in good shape.
“If you want to keep your brain fit, I suggest you stay away from slots, dice, and roulette games”, advises Aleksandra and adds how card-based games are a much better choice. Games like poker and blackjack are considered to be games of skill, rather than games of chance. The player must pay close attention, calculate different combinations and make decisions, regardless of whether they play against the computer, software, or another player.
“You can also do crosswords or sudoku, or maybe puzzles, but gambling is far more fun, and the fact there is a small money bet involved can spice things up and motivate you to think harder,” concludes Maj.
Increased Physical Activity
“With 2020 and multiple lockdowns behind us, we all have a couple of pounds worth shedding”, jokes Maj, “So, why not take the stroll down the street to meet your favorite bookie or blackjack dealer?”
What might sound like a joke, is actually true. People in Western World progressively gain weight and expose their minds and body to risks such as depression, high blood pressure, and increased tension on ligaments. A short walk around the block is something every doctor would recommend, no matter whether you just want to see what is going on or place a bet. Even online gaming has benefits on physical health as it relieves stress, and can be played anytime and anyplace. You can literally be sweating in a gym while playing the hottest games.
“If chess is a sport, then we can say the same for poker or blackjack. Professional poker players are all in good shape and regularly visit the gym. Do you think they could play poker for hours with their backs hurting or cramps in their left toe? I don’t think so,” reveals our expert who, in the end, once again reminds everyone to stay reasonable and responsible: “Play only what you can afford to lose, and don’t see it as a source of income. It should be all about fun!”