There is no straight answers to your question there are many websites that are operating currently and lot more comes everyday.
It was last officially measured in 2001 at 8 million - it's probably considerably more than that now, as it's a $35 billion annual market covering 85 countries. http://www.rightcasino.com/news/history-of-online-casinos/
A recent poll taken in 2005 reported that 85% of US adults have gambled at least once in their lives, with 80% in past year.
There are currently 250 million adults over age 18 in the United States and 85% of 250 million is 212,500,000
So to answer your question, very roughly; 212,500,000 adults in the US gamble, or have gambed at one point.
I don't know the numbers but i know it is rising with offshore gambling sites seeing an increase in users rather than decline since the US gambling enforcement laws tried to stop online games usage.
Payne (An online gambling specialist) estimates that 12.5 million Americans gamble on the internet. Wagers placed from United States citizens make up more then 80% of the global online gambling market.
there is no limitation for online gambling .Because you can find more than 1000 table in online gambling.
Millions as online gambling is a multi-billion dollar industry from the US alone.
Many people suffer from some kind of addiction. An addiction can be many things, it does not have to be something such as alcohol or drugs. Some people are addicted to things such as gambling.
There is a gambling hotline available and they can assist you for whatever your individual needs - there is help. More input Of course there is. There are many gambling addiction treatment centers which can help you come out clean.
alot
The precise reason that gambling can become addictive on a biological level is disputed. However, there seems to be a positive trend between gambling addiction and a particular set of genetic markers: the DRD2 gene, which is responsible for encoding the dopamine receptor d2, has been convincingly linked to gambling addiction. Dopamine receptors are implicated in many neurological processes, including cognition, motivation and pleasure. It has been found that drugs which inhibit dopamine receptors can reduce compulsive or addictive behavior in afflicted individuals. The up-shot of all this sciency stuff is that gambling releases chemicals that make you happy - this is what ultimately becomes addictive, not the act of gambling itself. People who describe 'gambling problems' are not necessarily addicts; a gambling problem just means gambling too much money. A genuine addiction is a chemical and psychological pathology with particular medical characteristics. Not everyone has the capacity to easily become a gambling addict, while others will become addicted following very limited exposure. SOURCE: http://www.rightcasino.com/news/mark-griffiths-gambling-addiction/
Gambling tends to be addictive, therefore, may people who gamble become addicted. That, just like any other addiction, can lead to problems. I've personally never verified it, but many people claim that bankruptcies increase in any area where there is legalized gambling. Regardless, if a person becomes addicted and loses most of his or her money, that affects the economy in various ways.
There are many ways to get help with a gambling addiction. Gamblers Anonymous, a 12 step recovery program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, is a good place to start. Cognitive behavior therapy is a 4 step treatment that attempts to change the way the gambler views gambling has found some success. This is a good starting point: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/gambling_addiction.htm
Recent years have seen a resurgence in the popularity of gambling, especially poker. Once considered a seedy pastime to be kept behind closed doors, gambling is now a televised spectator sport that draws a tremendous viewership. Meanwhile, gambling addiction continues to destroy lives and break apart families. Although there are many methods for tackling this addiction, 12-step programs have the highest success rate. Gamblers Anonymous meetings are available in most cities and metropolitan areas, while other helpful 12-step programs can be found virtually anywhere.
LOTS of people! no joke..
It's estimated that approximately 9 million people currently struggle with a prescription drug addiction in America. As far as how many people throughout the world, I have no idea. Sorry!
If you are asking what the significance of the study of addiction I can answer you there. There are many, many reasons that people study the nature of drug and alcohol addiction. Probably the main reason that people study addiction is because it has touched them somehow. Usually they have been affected by it personally or even a close family member or friend. Or other times it might just be someone that has a desire to learn about addiction. I have heard that it takes a very special person to even want to become a addiction counselor or work in the field of addiction studies. It takes someone with a lot of heart and compassion. Substance abuse is a very serious problem in the world today. Studying addiction can help people learn ways to try to better society as a whole. It can be a very interesting subject, and is usually Psychology based.
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It's basically what you said- an addiction to gambling. A gambling addiction goes along the lines of a shopping addiction, if you want it bad enough you will do what ever it takes until you do get it. The only difference is that with gambling you're blowing all that money based upon probability that you will win; whereas with shopping you're blowiing or spending money on some want or need you might have at that point in time. When gambling becomes an addiction with some people it no longer is about the enjoyment of the game or conversating with new people, it's about winning that money and doing what ever it takes to do so. With some people it is compulsive to put that money down, especially knowing that there is a chance that you could win.