Why Most UK People consider Gambling A Social Activity

 

You might be one of the many thousands of UK residents who consider gambling as a social activity. The majority of us live in small rural communities where the chances of any local businessman being seen gambling are almost non-existent. Yet when someone wins a jackpot at their local casino, the local town's resident population is sure to mob them and congratulate them on their win.

In light of this somewhat gloomy outlook, many people consider gambling to be a worthy pastime. Gambling has always been a popular hobby with many people from all walks of life. The advent of the internet has allowed many people from all walks of life to participate in gambling from the comfort of their own home. As well as becoming a pastime, gambling has also gained a reputation as a fun and exciting recreational activity.

So why does gambling have such a strong hold over our society? One possible reason could be our national obsession with fame and celebrity. Just think about all the rich and famous people we see at the Carlingwood Hotel in Cardiff every year. Even celebrities such as Gary Barlow and Clare Balding have made their home in Wales, where they can be spotted enjoying themselves at numerous events.

Another possible reason why people consider gambling a social pastime could be our increasing level of separation from our family. Most of us now have jobs and a variety of social lives. It is becoming rare for any one family member to lead a fully functional life without at least one other family member. This means that gambling is an excellent way of keeping fit and maintaining contact with old friends and relatives. All of us are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the amount of social interaction that these activities provide, which is leading us away from the things that brought us together in the first place.

Yet another reason why gambling is so popular with Welsh people may be linked to the "Wales Syndrome". Many describe themselves as "Gambling loving Welsh" and many describe their lifestyle as "piring". I believe that this attitude suits the type of person who considers online gambling a relaxing pastime. The fact that there are now a variety of online casinos around means that people can choose the one that appeals to them. No longer would a gambler need to visit the local casino, but he or she can choose the one that is most convenient.

Why then do so many people consider gambling as a social activity? Well, I believe that it is because gambling is a hugely successful business. Most casinos earn millions each year, not only from the betting but also from the sale of tickets and cards. A relatively small number of people win huge sums of money, but for the thousands who lose small amounts, the small wins become massive successes. This success attracts the attention of the media and public, who then become interested in the elusive secret behind such profusion.

What this story leaves me with is that gambling is not just about winning and losing, it is much more than that. Gambling can be an immensely enjoyable activity, if you know how to play it well. The point I am trying to make is that you should be enjoying yourself when you play and not feel inhibited by what other people think. I can personally guarantee that there will be no "winners and losers" in the socially engaged activity of gambling, and that socializing and interacting are much more important than winning and losing.

I find it hard to believe that the Welsh take this view. They clearly place a great deal of emphasis on interacting socially, which goes a long way to explaining why so many Welsh people take such a pleasure in such leisure activities as golf, tennis and fishing. There are countless examples of Welsh people having great, bonding social experiences in these sports and activities. So why then consider that gambling is not a social activity?