Topic: Gambling as an escape - page 13. (Read 2248 times)

I guess that's more common in collectivist societies where community is more essential. As a western, gambling as escapism in funerals is harder to imagine as in our individualist societies grief and mourning is still more personal thing. In here, mourning is visible but silent and suffering is our way of showing respect for the deceased. I don't think it's any better way then any other, but it's our culture and we are stuck with it.

And since everyone / every culture has a different way to process grief, we often see things that might feel irrational to us. And it might seem like we (ourselves too), are doing it wrong by feeling lots of different emotions. Thing is, we are incapable to feel just pure sadness, because feelings don't work like that. Feelings are ambiguous by nature, and need to feel joy in some form is inseparable part of that. That often comes in form of escapism or celebration for deceased.

I don't really have an opinion about which is the right way, but i do believe it's healthy to feel those feelings as soon as possible, so they won't bottle up. Because that's a platform to build depression on.

And with that i come to your point, which is escapism by gambling. Because gambling doesn't necessarily take a way the emotions, or prevent feeling them.

I can see why some people would see that as disrespectful, but if the culture doesn't see it that way, i wouldn't either. Because anything can be used as an escape, like playing, eating, watching tv, reading and learning, concentrating to working out, yoga, art and literally any hobby can be a form of escapism. Gambling is just one of the ways.

Other than money, I have not really used gambling as a means of leisure, fun or anything. I don't know if this means that I am money minded but I just feel more comfortable putting money first whenever gambling is involved. I just wonder how gambling could possibly help someone with stress management when I know that losing money could really be a major source of stress. Hopefully some people would have been able to figure out how to turn gambling into entertainment, the reason they could use it for fun and stress relief.

To escape from stress i think one of the best way is people should be go to the vacation because according to the studies vacation to the beach or to mountain can decreases people stress level but if there is people has heavy stress then most likely this people should be go to a psychologist because probably those people is a depression and gambling is not the best place to release your stress even most likely your level of stress will be increased this because when facing the loses or lost all of the money then i am sure people will be feeling hurt so don't ever try to gambling when you feel stressed and for me personally i never gambling to escape my stress this because i realize gambling is not the best way to solved my stress problem

Am surprised to know that you said this is real but it's not common I guess, personally I will feel very uncomfortable if I sse such happening, how would normal humans with their senses intact be playing cards when they are supposed to be sympathizing with the grievers, that sound so absurd. I have not come across this kind of behavior by people during funerals events but in my locality I notice people tends to relax at home on a funaral day, though they do different things but i have not noticed them playing cards.
Though people cope with gambling but it shouldn't be a mindset of an individual that has foresight and want to be grow financially, I have said it severally that gambling should be taken as what's it, people should not see gambling as a career because is not, the earlier we realize this facts the better for us.

I agree with you that gambling is an emotional thing and that's more reason why gamblers are advised to play caution so as to avoid being misled by their instinct, how can I use gambling to escape from stress when I know that it's an emotional thing, that would be very stupid of me to do, i gamble but not having the mindset of it relieving me of stress.

To be fair, People seek entertainment to relieve from their personal stress in life. It’s all about what’s your personal on how you can fight stress in the form of entertainment. This is same by drinking alcohol to forget everything and so on as long as you find it unwinding.

I’m not suggesting that gambling is a good form of stress reliever but it’s up to person personal preference on how they fight stress because winning a jackpot while your stress will surely boost your morale and forgot everything.

Gambling just have a downside.

There are many things that people do to escape reality, it doesn't ends with gambling alone, so many things that doesn't requires risking money are very common today.

I can engage in card games with my friends to escape from reality, and we are not placing any bets.

I can decide to go on stream and start playing multiplayer games with my friends to escape reality, in the end no one is paying me to do these and this is where I believe that you are wrong.

The funeral you are talking about, how will you know if those people are placing bets or not? I bet that these people are doing this to make extra bucks, those who really want to escape from reality won't risk money on games, the reality of gambling is that most are doing it not for fun but to make more money, location doesn't matter, either at a funeral or in the public toilet.

Maybe it sounds strange, to be honest, I've only heard of where someone died, their relatives were busy playing cards/gambling or drinking, I'm sure this doesn't apply to those who adhere to Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and others, clearly this applies to people other than those who adhere to religions like the ones I said above.

You can see those who died and those who are religious, as I said above, they have their own special rituals in that regard, not gambling, but I often hear that those who gamble use it as an escape, but not in sorrow or disaster, maybe if someone quarrels and divorces their husband or wife, they look for alternative gambling as an escape for their peace of mind, even though in reality it's all nonsense, but that's what happens, not in sorrow or disaster.

LOL That is what I thought but it is very common in my country that I do not think the deceased would mind if there were some gamblers at his wake. Maybe it also has a lot to do with our countrymen in general. We are known to be happy and resilient people and we do tend to always see the positives in any occasion even if it is a tragic one. Or at least try to lighten the mood no matter what. I am aware how it might seem disrespectful to the deceased but like I said, it is so embedded in our culture that no one really cares anymore.
Maybe that is exactly why they end up being gambling addicts; they do not want to go home and so they just stay at the casino.

I don't use gambling to escape from stress. I realize that can gives more problems for me. I don't want to see I have a difficulty to release stress if I use gambling to escape the stress. It is better I use the other activities that can help me to release my stress. Usually when I stress, I will take a sleep for a while and will say to my family not to disturb me. Sleeping for 1 hour is enough for me to release my stress and that is works for me so far. But maybe some people use gambling to escape from stress while they can feels relax and enjoy the games. Each people will have their way to release the stress so that will okay if they use the other ways that different than what we do.

Would be hypocrisy if I wouldn't say that I was gambling because of the potential profit, I'm guilty of course. Gamblers are just using this to sugarcoat their drive towards this activity. Only a few are really engaging to gambling activities, for fun and entertainment purposes; safe to say that those are rich ones. However, there are even instances that these people are reaching rock bottom from doing so because of huge loss and debt. With proper moderation then this is still possible however if I would be speaking in general, for sure higher number doesn't play to free themselves from stress.
Somewhat true but people have different ways to cope up with problems due to personality differences. I'm not validating this activity as a good escape goat for problems but we have our own free choice but at least be accountable of the outcome and counterpart of our actions. Gambling is just an activity and addiction or other worst outcomes are in our hands no matter how we look at it. Self discipline will always be a virtue.

Different customs and traditions that the world has. In African countries, I don't think such a thing would ever happen, to gamble during the burial of your loved one when you are supposed to be mourning. However, I am thinking of how long will someone gamble if they choose gambling as a way to thrill one another by playing cards at funerals.

Our African parents say that, after the funeral, when people have gone, that's when you will begin to miss your dead family member who you lost at the hands of death. The memory of your dead family member doesn't easily erase from your memory no matter how you choose to have a fun-filled life all day. It will still reoccur once in a while as human beings we are, to always remember our loved ones who share bonds with us

This is not very common. But I have heard about a chronic gambler who died. Everyone knows the gambler in that society and because of that, at his funeral, they conducted a gambling competition to honor his death. I literally don't see anything exciting about it since its just a celebration and honoring of the dead. To justify that, there are other activities that people do at funerals to honor their loved ones apart from gambling. It's always about what the deceased loved the most before his death.

It is problematic to think of something like that. As people may say, gambling is for fun but it does not give you that fun completely when you are losing. In the same way, those who think they can escape life problems through gambling its the same way they complicate the problems at hand by going to gamble. The people who introduced therapy weren't foolish. If one is emotionally down then he should go see a therapist so that

That is weard, if I may ask what country is that? I know people bet on streets on a regular occasion by street gangs and some other guys on the bar and clubs but haven't heard of funeral. If they do that It could just be for that moment.

For me I only gamble when I have the money and time including to try luck. Gambling is for fun but not everyone that way expecially when they are lossing more.

No matter the condition you find yourself, gambling shouldn't be an avenue to escape the realities of life because at the end, you see yourself attracting more dangers to yourself instead of helping yourself through gambling. Gambling is best practiced when a gambler isn't distressed or mentally disturbed but some people who find themselves in this situations does choose gambling as an escape route to their realities and in most cases, they end up losing their fortunes to gambling.

For me it gives temporary happiness and this is not suitable for people encounter a lot of problems in life, since provably that they would get more problem especially if they able to use a lot of money then lost everything they have.

We know that there's no assurance on gambling so people should not try to make it as an escape route but rather gamble only when they are in good condition and right mind to decide what's possible next good action to do.

Feel bad for other people think that by spending their time on gambling it can make them forget their issues in life. But they didn't realize well that if they fuck up on gambling then there would be a lot more problem will follow after that.

This happens in my area too. They’re using funerals to make money, and it’s really sad that the family allows it—after all, people come to gamble, not to mourn. When I asked why, they said it helps ease the grief because people get distracted by the games. Maybe they have a point, but to me, it’s just not the right place for this kind of thing. Some say it’s cultural, but I don’t see it that way. I’d rather mourn genuinely, so the deceased can feel our sadness—not act like we’re happy they’re gone.

On the other side, it was not a kind of showing respect to the dead person but an insult to him/her. That is why I'd never find it reasonable enough to see there is gambling at a funeral.

I mean, isn't having fun, excitement, and enjoyment basically escaping the stressful things in life? Personally, it doesn't really matter where you gamble as long as you're not disobeying any laws so gambling in a funeral sounds fine as long as everyone is pretty respectful about it. And no, I don't think it's a "coping" mechanism. At least, all types of entertainment aren't but only up to a certain point. As you've said, it's just "potentially harmful". Still up to the person themselves to make it not one.

And yes, I use gambling. I've always told/shared that I've been gambling for fun for the most part, thoroughly enjoying the adrenaline rush it can give me all while managing my money properly. A pretty good entertainment activity imo, alongside a bunch of other hobbies that I have.

Gambling can be fun, but if you use it as an escape, you're treating it like a fix for your problems, and that’s a mistake.

It costs money and won’t solve stress, especially if you're broke. Many get hooked, hoping it’ll solve money issues, but it often makes things worse. If you gamble to escape, you’re at higher risk for addiction, which just adds to your problems. To truly enjoy it as entertainment, keep a clear head and stable emotions.

It cannot be denied that it is not everyone who gamble that do it to win or for the purposes of entertainment. Many people are going through a lot of financial, psychological and other stressors. I cannot judge them but still, I do not think that is the best way.


Your country is a strange country where people would want to gamble against each other in a funeral. It look as if they would also gamble at other events too like birthday parties, Weddings and all others.I would always take gambling for fun and not a way of escape. And I believe that life wouldn't get so hard that I ever consider it as an option.

Some people mistakenly think that by taking a dose of alcohol or drugs, they can escape from worries for a while and relax. It can be said in the same way that the mistaken opinion about gambling during times of great stress can only worsen your mental state. If we talk about drinking, then being emotional and very drunk, you can completely lose control, which will lead to tragic events, just as a person who is under stress is at that point when the future loses its meaning for him, and spending a lot of money during the game can lead you to complete bankruptcy in the morning. Play consciously.