Gamblers Synonymous
So what exactly do all gamblers have in common? Do you yourself have a typical gambling personality? And what drives people to assume such risks when knowing very well that the odds of winning - whether at land or online casinos - are stacked against them? After all, like the saying goes: The house always comes out ahead. Are these personality traits genetic, or learned, or what?
It's estimated that Americans alone spent over $100 billion on gambling last year, wagering through lotteries, sports betting , traditional land-based casinos and poker rooms. Oh, and let's not forget, of course, those new kids on the gambling block - Internet gambling websites. Some 80% of Americans will gamble at one time or another and 80 million Americans are currently playing poker, which is now considered a sport by many and has even become a TV sensation.
And who's getting rich? According to a TIME magazine study, the estimated five billion dollars in profits from Native American casinos would rank them among the top 20 of all Fortune 500 companies. Wow, talk about honoring a reservation!
The Making of a Serial Gamer
So what is it that keeps gamblers coming back for more? And what is that the casinos, both online and land-based, are doing to draw in these gamblin' folk? Well, as the line goes in the1995 movie "Casino" starring Robert De Niro "The rule is to keep them playing and keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose. In the end, we get it all."
While loads of people place bets on mega sporting events such as the Super Bowl and World Cup Football, casinos cannot depend on these big sporting events for their regular income. Instead they require repeat customers, and getting them means doing all they can to determine who's got a gambling personality.
After all, a casino's life support system depends on regular players, and knowing who they are and identifying their likes and dislikes can translate into major bucks. Casinos spend an awful lot of time and money trying to figure this out. Every year in fact over fifty million Americans wager away more than $36 billion at casinos. A congressional commission determined that Americans spend more money annually on gambling than they do on groceries.
Research studies and surveys have identified certain traits which make up the gambling personality. The results may shock you. A typical gambler is a middle aged woman with a household income of approximately $50,000, 20% greater than the overall US population. Gamblers may toss cash away at casinos, but elsewhere they're often tight with their money. Fifty-five percent clip coupons and 62% admit to being bargain shoppers. Gamblers are 11% less likely to enter a place of worship (other than a casino) than non-gamblers. People who work in high-risk professions, or deal with considerable uncertainty in their occupation, such as sales people and small business owners, are more prone to gambling.
Risky Business or Pleasure?
Risk takers, like people involved in exciting activities such as extreme sports, or those with greater tendencies to experiment with alcohol, tobacco or drugs also fit the profile. Also considered ideal prospects for gambling sites are older people over 40-45 whose kids have left home and can thus afford both the time and money.
And there you have it; some of the more common personality traits among gamblers at both land and online casinos . So... are you game?
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