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Is Playing Lottery Different From Gambling?
Written by Graham McKenzie   
Wednesday, 10 March 2010 08:27
Gambling is nothing but indulging in a game of luck that requires every player to put in something valuable as stake. Those who win sweep away all the stakes and they need not even compensate the other players for the loss incurred by them.
by GrahamMcKenzie


Gambling is nothing but indulging in a game of luck that requires every player to put in something valuable as stake. Those who win sweep away all the stakes and they need not even compensate the other players for the loss incurred by them.

Gambling can be of different types such as online betting, slot machines, card games, lottery, etc. Lottery is also a very popular type of gambling, in which the winners can win pre-decided gifts and prizes.

Although gambling is highly popular in several parts of the world, yet, it is strictly forbidden in the Islamic nations because Islam considers gambling to be an absolutely unethical practice, something which is equivalent to committing a big sin, and must therefore be avoided.

But in the other parts of the world, gambling has gained immense popularity and it is treated not only as a means of earning some extra cash, but also as a means of entertainment. Governments of many countries like Spain, France, Canada, Belgium, U.K, and in several states in the U.S even encourage lotteries and conduct mega lottery bonanzas from time to time. The revenues so generated are used for improving public utilities and general facilities for the public, such as using the funds from lottery for construction of schools, playgrounds or hospitals.

The craze for lotteries and gambling is very high across the globe and people from all income groups are found to be indulging in gambling. In fact, lotteries have earned the name - "tax on stupidity" because there are very remote chances of winning in a lottery, when compared to the other popular forms of gambling, and yet we stupidly keep buying lottery tickets in the hope of winning some day. Since the revenue generated from gambling is used for social service such as for the construction of roads, schools and hospitals, it is used more or less like the taxes paid by us. Hence it has earned the name - "tax on stupidity".

Gambling has almost become an obsession with people. This can sometimes, take a very ugly shape when individuals start suffering from an insuppressible urge to gamble, a disorder named as "compulsive gambling". This is a psychological disorder and the patient becomes so obsessed and addicted to gambling, that he needs rehabilitation and therapy to restore a state of normalcy.

Playing gambling at the cost of someone's hard earned money or possessions is absolutely unethical. Instead, lottery and gambling can be played purely for fun, using less valuable gifts and token amounts as this will not harm anyone and everyone can enjoy the game irrespective of whet

About the Author:

Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for a South African UK Lottery website, where you can buy tickets to play the UK lottery and participate in the Euro millions draw.