Gambling seems to be somewhat of a taboo subject. I am an internet marketer for a gambling related web site when making an attempt to submit articles or be listed on directories I was faced with a flurry of rejections. I began feeling I was doing something wrong. So why does gambling have such a undesirable reputation?

We are adults and to gamble is voluntary:
In the U.K it is prohibited for anyone under the age of 18 to gamble. At 18 years of age you become entirely liable for your own decisions and implications they attract.

Gambling is a voluntary interest, it is your option whether to gamble.

Surely the most important two issues are listed above, that we are adults and have the competence to make our own choices and are accountable for the outcomes (positive or negative) you experience.

Gambling, why is it wrong?
There is nothing wrong or bad about gambling as long as it is responsible. In my opinion responsible gambling can be explained as people taking pleasure in placing a bet, spending a minor proportion of their leisure earnings on what they think about as an pleasurable activity.

The odds are generally against us
In many circumstances they are, but remember that bookmakers, casinos etc are businesses and the purpose of a business is to make income. It is not concealed - we are aware the odds are not in our favour but we still gamble. Therefore we must gain something in the transaction, otherwise we wouldn't do it, and remember there are sometimes big winners, like the gentleman that bet 50 pence and walked away with £1 million thanks to an eight horse accumulator.

Addiction
Gambling can become an addiction and this is the concern. I am sure it is the main contributing issue as to why there is such pessimism towards gambling. Some people have lost everything nourishing the dependency at even the sacrifice of their family. This is the unappealing and difficult to read side of gambling. A small indicator of the extent of the problem is that providers documented in excess of 19,000 self-exclusions between October 2009 and September 2010. The act of self-exclusion (essentially banning yourself) denotes these persons are most likely battling with dependency, and do not forget the other people that do not self-exclude that are also dependent, the ones that have a gambling problem but cannot stop. If you believe that you have a gambling problem there is some very helpful advice, for instance: Gamble Aware, GamCare and Gambling Therapy. Please do not deal with this by yourself, get in contact with one of the above helplines.

Closing statement
Gambling is enjoyable when executed sensibly. Gambling creates jobs – according to statistics the major five bookmakers employed more than 54,000 people (figures from September 2010). Tax helps the UK's economy - Without doubt the tax on earnings of gambling operators such as bookies, casinos etc supports the UK's economy. The down side is dependency, but is this down to human nature? We have the choice to gamble and by picking to gamble we are knowingly accepting the associated danger.