Topic: Gambling as an escape - page 15. (Read 2432 times)

There are similar traditions in our culture, where gambling at funerals or other somber events is part of the social fabric. It’s almost like a shared ritual that helps people connect and cope in a communal way, even if it might not seem like the healthiest outlet at first glance.

Personally, I believe that turning to gambling as a means to escape emotional pain can be a slippery slope. When emotions run high, it’s easy to make decisions you might later regret. Finding healthier ways to process grief or stress, like talking things through with friends or engaging in hobbies that bring joy, can be far more beneficial in the long run.

In my view gambling is add-on to the life rather than escape. Filipinos ^{for instance} even incorporated    gambling  into their death traditions proving that it is a part of their life. Regarding the stress, I believe that gambling builds mind&body tension  more than often rather than mitigate it. Thus I would not advocate  to use gambling activity for the stress relief,  

I'm hearing for the first time that people gamble in funerals, it's sounding weird to me because everybody is supposed to be in a sober mood at funerals. What I've witnessed are people getting drunk at funerals, maybe to kill the pains of grieving or because there are enough free drinks. I know that people use different methods to escape boredom and stress, some might engage in gambling, drinking, drugs, sex, even hitting the gym to work off their stress. People should not use gambling as an escape from unpleasant situations, I believe that it can lead to addiction if they don't overcome their stress. Gambling needs to be engaged in when you're in full control of yourself because it involves your money at stake.

that is not what it was about. As you know there are a lot of people in the Philippines(I assume you are talking about the Philippines) who can't afford to buy a lot as a burial ground for their loved ones, gambling helps with that, if you have been in funerals you'll know that the people who gamble there give a fee/commission to the family of the deceased as a way to help them financially, it is also a way for the community to show support to the family. anyway, yeah, overtime kind of became a tradition but it doesn't happen at every funeral.

I wouldn't say "escape" the stress of the real world but I do use gambling as a way to unwind

I thought that it will be something "normal" because that's true gambling is for fun and sometime as a coping mechanism, but betting in a funeral doesn't make any sense. I can't being fun or happy when I see someone's love has been passed away, even I don't know personally with the one who died, but I know how it feels.

It's true you can get addicted, but it's not always happen.

I know someone who work on weekdays and then have a party on weekend for every week, does he's addicted? can't really say, but he enjoy his life by doing that.

I guess we are both in the same country. Funerals + gambling + 1 week. That's how it has gone ever since I was a kid up until now. It's not about beliefs anymore that one is grieving and will use gambling as a means to escape sadness. Gambling at funerals became a means to get donations from the gamblers if a family is incapable of paying for everything including the casket, the funeral service, and the lot on where the dead will be buried which is definitely expensive. The main reason why many people now will just go through the cremation of their loved ones is so they will avoid that heavy payment.

But for those who are hurt, going through a divorce, fired from the job, etc... Yes, I think gambling can be an escape for them but it won't help either, it will just make things worse.

My initial reaction was 'no way' but as I think more on the subject I am inclined to actually
see this happening.

In many cultures including my own Death is mostly seen as something to celebrate while
at the same time mourning the passing of a loved one. That person has passed from this
world onto a better one and this is celebrated here by story telling, eating food and drinking,
While I have never seen this myself I'm sure there are games played and gambling taken place
too as part of the celebration, I can understand it.

*obviously there are funerals where there is no celebration as in the untimely death of
a young one for example. So I would see playing games and gambling as a no go there

There are others who are really gamblers who use the gambling place so that they can avoid the problem they are facing for a while, so even for a while they run away from it, maybe so that they can think properly about the problem they have left behind for the time being. That's what I see in others.

But I've never experienced that kind of thing that makes gambling in the casino an escape place so that I can think properly; this is not my way because gambling
for me is really just for fun and enjoyment.

I am the same, I have never found people gambling or even just playing cards when someone dies. Maybe it is also related to the culture in each environment, because I also only see in my environment and do not know other environments with other cultures. However, saying gambling as a form of escape may also be true. Because maybe there are many out there who have problems they use gambling as a place to relieve stress or escape. Because as we also know that everyone comes to gambling with different goals, so this is very possible for some people to experience.

Using gambling as a coping mechanism or as a way to distract yourself from reality can get you addicted to it, it's the same thing for those that get addicted to liquor, smoking and drugs they do it so as to derive pleasure and escape emotional discomfort, what most people don't realize is that doing this can actually give you dependency issues. It starts when your brain starts adapting to it, you will always feel like gambling even when you know you are not supposed to, at this point you don't care about winning or losing anymore, your only focus would be to satisfy the urge to gamble.

I'd really be shocked to attend a funeral and find people gambling when they should be feeling sorrowful or sad for the bereaved family. Gambling as an escape during sad moments is no a recommendable way to heal, infact it could trigger more compulsive behaviour in the bereaved, making him/them get more financial losses to add to the soul already lost.

This is not just limited to funerals, gambling generally to get over some troubled situation is dangerous. At that point, the gambler is too vulnerable emotionally and his sense of judgement at that point cannot be trusted. If the situation is not handled carefully, he might end up getting addicted which is even more dangerous.

There are lots of healthy ways to deal with some sad moments, but gambling at that point of vulnerability is not ideal.

Although I know that people often gamble in funeral places, parties and some local event where it is used as a way of keeping themselves busy and having fun, but it is not always usual, it happens occasionally but not regularly. It is often practiced in the local community or village. those kind of gambling are usually card games, draft, chess, scrabble, snooker, tennis, cockfight and many more. but does not anyway mean that the regular betting and or gambling shop are not available.

Hahaha your ghost must be a strong one then, Because I've not heard such before. You should be even be happy if they gamble in your funeral because you are a gambler and you deserved it. Just being funny though.

What is your country? Maybe there are some specific "politic" situation that can influence this perspection?!

There are different approaches in real life gambling. Both from casinos owner than from players.
I don't think this is something "national" based but is something related to the environment or the marketing itself.
If you enter in some periferic bingo rooms where people could even smoke inside, you know very well that there is a different atmosphere of a glamour casino!

Gambling in a funeral place is usual and like I know I have also experienced that because, at my side when someone is dead, people can actually perform all their necessary duty and while resting or wait to be offered food they would keep game to keep themselves busy this implies (draft, whott game or dice as ludo) to keep themselves busy, and it mostly happens in some of the interior villages. But however, In my opinion I don't think this should be done while at the mourning time where everyone will be passing through pains for losing their loves ones.

Perhaps, those who used gambling as escape from their death are those who by all means even creating more death or becoming more harmful to themselves because, I don't think a real man or a reasonable man would want to shy away from their responsibility. Like I know, no one that has ever became gambler and remain the same with their loves ones, is either problem to problems, meaning when that person might have become addicted gambler they starts facing all manners of problems with family which in contrary turns to serious pains to their household.

I never have found anyone in my country gambling when they are grieving or in the cemetery. But I ever frequently seen people gambling when they have parties like weeding in his home. They are playing cards and dominoes, bet a small money and sometime with huge amount of money if the host join in playing too. I will definitely join too if they bet with a small money, and it depends also on my mood, I can't playing gambling if I have stress, or was thinking about something, I will definitely lost if I force joi to gambling.

In my countries, that happens too because many people gather in that house while doing many things including playing card with friends who are in there. That perhaps is a tradition that still exist in some city but that is not all of them and only those who still want to do that. But here, gambling is prohibit and if police know about that, they will ask them to stop and not continue playing card.

I just playing gambling occasionally and not too intensive as I only playing gambling in online casino. I don't use gambling to escape from stress of the real world because that can attracts me to spends longer and more money. That will not good for me because that can gives more stresses especially when I lose all of that money.

The custom in my area is also like that, if someone dies but already has grandchildren, then people will not be sad anymore for him, but instead they will drink and have fun like playing cards or dominoes to entertain the bereaved family. Because we realize that people who already have grandchildren can be said to be perfect in their lives, and people should not cry for them, instead people should be happy at their funeral. Indeed, for some people this is quite strange, but that's why sometimes gambling can be a consolation for those who are stressed.

I don't know why country you are from but it will be such a huge culture shock of I attended a funeral in your country and saw that gambling is a side attraction. Anyone who tries that at my funeral would received a very hard knock by my ghost for taking advantage of such a solemn event to get some pleasure.

Those who use gambling as an escapism from the real world and their own problems would soon find out that it is self-deception. You don't run away from your problems you face it head on. After having the thrills of pleasure from gambling, you'll return home to find your problem on the couch waiting for you.

Those who use gambling to burn off steam like stress from work or just relax are the people I support. And especially if they do it responsibly.

We all associate gambling with fun, excitement, and enjoyment

There is a reason why casinos are brightly lit and has fast paced music. The overall idea of gambling should be energetic and exhilarating. Well, in my country, you might find gambling in a less thrilling environment such as a funeral.

Yes, it is very common in my country that whenever there is a funeral there will be people playing cards and gambling against each other.

I don’t know if this is common in other countries but I never really thought twice of the fact that gambling, which is usually associated with time for pleasure, can be found in a place that is so grievous.

I researched just now and found that some gamblers do in fact use gambling as a form of escape from their real life. Which is why you might find a lot of people just recently went through a divorce or death of a loved one gambling. I guess this is why there are always people gambling in funerals. Obviously over time I think it just became more of a tradition rather than an actual act of escape from mourning.

Personally I don’t think it’s a good idea to use gambling as a coping mechanism especially that your emotions will be the one driving your decisions and that almost never end well. It’s fine sometimes but I find that dealing with your emotions especially negative ones can be much helpful than turning into potentially harmful vices.

But What about you? Do you also use gambling to escape from stress of the real world?