Sad reality: some countries gamble more than they can afford

[Helena Yu]

Your comparation isn't make any sense.

Greece is one of unequal wealth distribution, so it means a rich people is very rich while the poor people is really poor. Since the statistic talks about GDP, there's a possibility if only the rich people spent such huge amount of money to gamble, while the poor people aren't gamble too much.

If you want to get a better statistic if Greeks gamble more than they can afford, you need to find how many gamblers in Greece.

We find large asymmetries in the allocation of wealth in Greece: the richest 1% of the population holds roughly as much wealth as the poorest 50%, while the richest 10% holds about four times the wealth of the poorest 50%.

[Outhue]

It's a general problem in gambling, it doesn't matter which country a gambler is from, anyone can, black or white can gamble with what they can't afford to lose, and sadly not everyone knows the true meaning of gambling, for me the definition have every truth exposed about gambling.

Gambling is taking action with the hope of a desired result, unfortunately someone won't make money if you win, meaning your chances are even slimmer than when it's just you and fate, in casinos case it's about you and another human, who promised to give you money if your prediction turned out right.

In sight it shows how risky gambling can be but people, stupid and foolish of them, they strongly believe that gambling holds the key to their financial problems, it's possible to win games in gambling but if your dream is to make millions in gambling you are even at a greater risk, because for such goal you will need to risk higher amount of money.

For people who expected too less from gambling, they risk very small amount that they can afford to lose to just have a win, they won't be rich but at least they won't always be at a greater risk, for them a win is a win.

[mindrust]

It is because gambling attracts poor people a lot more than rich people. Rich people are greedy too but unlike poor people they know the difference between being greedy and being stupid. Rich people play to have fun unless they are stupid too. (It is not impossible to be rich and stupid at the same time) Poor people on the other hand, they play to get rich and obviously it is pretty much impossible in the long run because of the house edge that protects the casino from the players. That mechanic (house edge) makes money for the casino, it is a big advantage which the casino has over the players. Poor people either don’t know or don’t care but in the end they get even poorer.

[piebeyb]

The government must intervene by blocking and prohibiting people from gambling offline or online. Do you think that will really help? I don't think so, we don't need to pretend we don't know that there is still a lot of sense for gambling addicts to gamble with VPN or all kinds of methods, because what needs to be addressed is the gamblers because they are consciously gambling at their own risk, for example the government in the country I prohibit gambling but people here can still gamble using VPN and other methods.

I think it all depends on the gambling addicts who are there, all countries that are poor and economically below average or lower middle class, most of them gamble just to hope for instant wins and wealth but they never realize that they will never get it. unless they are really lucky, I'm sure it's not only in your country but in other countries it's the same. it's better to find a way to stop them by curing them as addicts rather than expecting the government to step in to deal with it.  

[Huppercase]

I was looking at gambling statistics for my country the other day. People in Greece lost 22.5 billion EUR only in 2021, and 29 billion in 2022 and that was only on licensed establishments.

That's around 10% of Greece's GDP wasted away towards offshore companies... This is a very hard issue to deal with and to think that it happens at such a scale even with the licensed casinos is unthinkable. Essentially governments sell a casino license once and then these casinos are given free reign on how to advertise, how to be promoted, what claims to make... No limits to how much they can earn.

These numbers are crazy but you want to know the craziest ones? Nigeria is among the top countries that spend more money on game very day and the reason why we have these increased in higher numbers of gamblers, it's the rate of employment. When a country empowerment numbers is too low, expect to have high numbers of gamblers, even the ones that are already employed still gamble and that is because the minimum wage is low, the salaries are too low for survival.

As of first of November 2023, it was reported that Nigerians spent $975m daily on gambling, these numbers is scary to be honest, this is not monthly but daily. If you should do the math and add the numbers in a month, that means the country spent $29.25B every month in gambling. This is only for license gambling platforms, if we are to include unlicensed platforms, we can get more than this figures, this is very very bad for a country that struggle to pay $30 a month for minimum wage.

For a country that have $479B for her GDP, isn't that concerning? I think the country need to fix her employment numbers, if they can manage to bring down this numbers, these numbers will also reduce as well and if they to educate people on gambling, it will help educate people about effects of gambling.

[Mauser]

What do you think about this issue where people gamble too much in countries where the vast majority of the population isn't well off? Should governments step in and restrict casinos more perhaps?

I am not so familiar with the situation in Greece, from vacations I know that it's a beautiful country with many friendly people. But you don't really talk with strangers about gambling, I never noticed that there are many casinos or that people enjoy gambling so much. It's of course a bad thing if a poorer country loses so much money in gambling. I feel like that in some places where there is no real opportunities to make money and fix your life that gambling is the only solution. Even if the odds are in favor of the casino there is still a chance to make a profit. The majority of gamblers is not going to get rich, it's only a very small part of people that will get lucky and that is what attracts everybody else.

[naira]

In sight it shows how risky gambling can be but people, stupid and foolish of them, they strongly believe that gambling holds the key to their financial problems, it's possible to win games in gambling but if your dream is to make millions in gambling you are even at a greater risk, because for such goal you will need to risk higher amount of money.

For people who expected too less from gambling, they risk very small amount that they can afford to lose to just have a win, they won't be rich but at least they won't always be at a greater risk, for them a win is a win.

You're right, and that's what gambling is like, which should serve as a reminder that our ultimate goal of winning big means we have to take bigger risks. Sometimes luck comes with small capital but big results, but not all gamblers can get it. Even after years of gambling, he still felt that his winnings were not guaranteed to cover his total expenses while at the casino. So basically you just need to bet realistically and have your own risk management to always know that gambling decisions must always be accompanied by awareness when you experience defeat.

[Nheer]

Why does it have to be about poor countries? If a country is rich its ok for its citizens to lose a bunch of money?

You as a person decide whether to gamble or not to gamble. The country IMO has nothing to do with it. Even if the country restricted or limited gambling, there are still ways people would gamble so you really cannot blame it all on the government.

At some point people have to be responsible for their own actions man. Can't just always think someone else is at fault.

Yes this is true, a country’s Government should not be blamed for a citizen’s mistakes because everyone from the age of 18 is allowed to gamble and so they are adults so they have the right to make decisions and they can differentiate between good and bad so they should be responsible for their own actions. An adult should be aware of the risks involved in gambling and it’s their duty to learn and understand what they are getting themselves into before engaging in it.

All the stats being made on gambling about losing rates doesn’t matter much to me because just as much as people lose money they also win but a lot of people like to talk about the losses incured which IMO is normal just that gamblers need to regulate the rate at which they gamble.

[Rabata]

What do you think about this issue where people gamble too much in countries where the vast majority of the population isn't well off? Should governments step in and restrict casinos more perhaps?

I am not so familiar with the situation in Greece, from vacations I know that it's a beautiful country with many friendly people. But you don't really talk with strangers about gambling, I never noticed that there are many casinos or that people enjoy gambling so much. It's of course a bad thing if a poorer country loses so much money in gambling. I feel like that in some places where there is no real opportunities to make money and fix your life that gambling is the only solution. Even if the odds are in favor of the casino there is still a chance to make a profit. The majority of gamblers is not going to get rich, it's only a very small part of people that will get lucky and that is what attracts everybody else.

This is not the only situation in Greece. There are many other countries that are losing a lot of money in gambling. But there is no official statistics. There are many countries where gambling is not legal but gambler gambling using VPN software so the government can't restrict them. Moreover, no country's government can stop it even they try to do it. What can be done now is to increase individual awareness and take various steps by government to plan how to teach control in gambling otherwise people can just lose. There is no alternative from the position.

[swogerino]

You took Greece as an example and you did good to take that country which is the most rich country in the Balkans so it is normal to see those huge lost amounts.Keep in mind though that in all Balkans countries it is the same mentality regarding gambling,people are poor and they look at gambling as a way to make some extra money and to remove their attention from their daily amount of stress which in this zone is huge.

Unfortunately this will never change in this region of the world,people here are gamblers since early age and they don't need to grow up to play,most of them go with their parents in different casinos and they learn all regarding gambling in very young age as I said.

[ethereumhunter]

This is not the only situation in Greece. There are many other countries that are losing a lot of money in gambling. But there is no official statistics. There are many countries where gambling is not legal but gambler gambling using VPN software so the government can't restrict them. Moreover, no country's government can stop it even they try to do it. What can be done now is to increase individual awareness and take various steps by government to plan how to teach control in gambling otherwise people can just lose. There is no alternative from the position.

The people who have lost a lot of money and not the country. But there are no official statistics about it. The government clearly has to intervene in reducing the number of gambling addictions or the number of people who gamble by giving an appeal to the public not to gamble too often. But people still want to get money quickly so they think they can get it from gambling so, which makes many people start gambling. The government should be able to think of ways to provide jobs so that people can make money and slowly leave gambling behind. Those who gamble want money because they cannot get a job that can give them money. This also triggers crime to increase because, with a large number of unemployed people, they have to make ends meet even though they have no money. But if public awareness can increase, it can reduce the number of people who gamble and can even reduce the number of gambling addictions. They can also start trying by creating their own business. The important thing is that they can survive and make money from what they do instead of gambling.

[Westinhome]

The people who have lost a lot of money and not the country. But there are no official statistics about it. The government clearly has to intervene in reducing the number of gambling addictions or the number of people who gamble by giving an appeal to the public not to gamble too often. But people still want to get money quickly so they think they can get it from gambling so, which makes many people start gambling. The government should be able to think of ways to provide jobs so that people can make money and slowly leave gambling behind. Those who gamble want money because they cannot get a job that can give them money. This also triggers crime to increase because, with a large number of unemployed people, they have to make ends meet even though they have no money. But if public awareness can increase, it can reduce the number of people who gamble and can even reduce the number of gambling addictions. They can also start trying by creating their own business. The important thing is that they can survive and make money from what they do instead of gambling.

The gambler was the person who loss or gain money from the gambling,but the fact is the loss will impact the economy of the country.Both the loss and win will impact the country economy.So the country also had the impact by the gambling loss or win of the individual gambler.The government can influence the gambling by making the law to put tax on the gambling withdrew all the time.Some country had legalised the gambling in their country and getting taxes from their gambler.This taxes will not affect the gambler who made the big win in the gambling,this only affect the gambler who made the less win from the game or no win from all the game.

[Taskford]

The people who have lost a lot of money and not the country. But there are no official statistics about it. The government clearly has to intervene in reducing the number of gambling addictions or the number of people who gamble by giving an appeal to the public not to gamble too often. But people still want to get money quickly so they think they can get it from gambling so, which makes many people start gambling. The government should be able to think of ways to provide jobs so that people can make money and slowly leave gambling behind. Those who gamble want money because they cannot get a job that can give them money. This also triggers crime to increase because, with a large number of unemployed people, they have to make ends meet even though they have no money. But if public awareness can increase, it can reduce the number of people who gamble and can even reduce the number of gambling addictions. They can also start trying by creating their own business. The important thing is that they can survive and make money from what they do instead of gambling.

The gambler was the person who loss or gain money from the gambling,but the fact is the loss will impact the economy of the country.Both the loss and win will impact the country economy.So the country also had the impact by the gambling loss or win of the individual gambler.The government can influence the gambling by making the law to put tax on the gambling withdrew all the time.Some country had legalised the gambling in their country and getting taxes from their gambler.This taxes will not affect the gambler who made the big win in the gambling,this only affect the gambler who made the less win from the game or no win from all the game.

Don't know how it can give an impact to the countries economy since the gambler is just the only one losing their money and they are not using a public funds so there's no lose coming from government regarding on that situation. But if the gambler is tax evader and instead that they pay their taxes he used it for gambling then maybe there's a small factor that it is a loss for the country but not totally they can get affected since they have more source on where they can get those funds. And gambling taxes or individual taxes is just a chunk for them.

We don't see a country collapsed its because their citizen lost in gambling and if someone tell that then this is just a hoax. Gambling taxes is just small part so we don't need to worry about this, that's why there are country ban gambling on their system since they can still run a country without even issue even if there's no gambling tax will go to their treasury.

[boty]

This is not the only situation in Greece. There are many other countries that are losing a lot of money in gambling. But there is no official statistics. There are many countries where gambling is not legal but gambler gambling using VPN software so the government can't restrict them. Moreover, no country's government can stop it even they try to do it. What can be done now is to increase individual awareness and take various steps by government to plan how to teach control in gambling otherwise people can just lose. There is no alternative from the position.

Efforts are needed from the government to encourage people to reduce their gambling activities little by little, because if someone has become addicted to gambling, of course this will be very bad for their financial condition and they will not be able to meet their needs. It is important for everyone to be able to control themselves in gambling so that they do not spend more of the income they have on gambling, if we continue to gamble more than we can afford then it will be impossible for us to meet the needs we need.

[noormcs5]

I was looking at gambling statistics for my country the other day. People in Greece lost 22.5 billion EUR only in 2021, and 29 billion in 2022 and that was only on licensed establishments.

29 billion Euros for 2022 only?that is a huge money just to be Lose in gambling does this mean Gambling
 operators are really earning billions of Euros each year.that can covers our country's expenses for the whole year.

and the saddest part is that looks like people are losing money that can feed their family instead it goes to the operators.

Hoping that the government will act accordingly and seems like Greece are losing to gambling owner .

What can the government do in such a situation when the people are more inclined to gamble and lose money? Remember, people are using their own money to gambling and they are not taking money from the government to gamble. It's the people's own choice and i don't think the government can control them. If they put a ban on gambling sites, people will still use VPNs and access the sites to play online.

The best advice here in my point of view is that the government should start the casinos operating within the country under their supervision. Though it won't be moral, but that is the best option to boost the economy and stop the drainage of money to offshore gambling companies. In this way, if people gamble on the local national casinos and lose, the beneficiary will be the government as all the money will go to them. This is the only way to get money from a society that is addicted to gambling.

[abel1337]

What do you think about this issue where people gamble too much in countries where the vast majority of the population isn't well off? Should governments step in and restrict casinos more perhaps?

One factor I think why people spend so much on gambling more than they can afford is the lack of education and financial literacy. Countries who are poor has a citizens who don't have enough education given the fact that people prioritize surviving and taking jobs instead of studying. Majority of those people who lack financial literacy want to make money as fast as they want and some of them don't really consider the risk of gambling. Casino is a business and they don't earn money from the gamblers, I don't think that gamblers who doesn't have a proper education understand it, they are more focus in taking risk and don't think a head.

[alastantiger]

What do you think about this issue where people gamble too much in countries where the vast majority of the population isn't well off? Should governments step in and restrict casinos more perhaps?

I'd like to think that your write up is incomplete.

You have found that income countries that are poor there is a high prevalence of gambling that exceeded the standard wage or income of the citizens. Perhaps you should have given us one or two ways the government can handle this if you there should be a governmental intervention.

The fault here is not from the government. The government of a country cannot decide how her people should spend their money. Restricting casinos will not have any effect. Rather there should be a regulation of gambling companies if they are not adhering to them already. And if the government is not dealing with a problem of gambling addiction, then they are fine. It means her citizens are gambling responsibly however if there is an increase in gambling addiction, they need to step up their awareness campaign and create avenues to help the suffering folks.

[Blitzboy]

This is not the only situation in Greece. There are many other countries that are losing a lot of money in gambling. But there is no official statistics. There are many countries where gambling is not legal but gambler gambling using VPN software so the government can't restrict them. Moreover, no country's government can stop it even they try to do it. What can be done now is to increase individual awareness and take various steps by government to plan how to teach control in gambling otherwise people can just lose. There is no alternative from the position.

The people who have lost a lot of money and not the country. But there are no official statistics about it. The government clearly has to intervene in reducing the number of gambling addictions or the number of people who gamble by giving an appeal to the public not to gamble too often. But people still want to get money quickly so they think they can get it from gambling so, which makes many people start gambling. The government should be able to think of ways to provide jobs so that people can make money and slowly leave gambling behind. Those who gamble want money because they cannot get a job that can give them money. This also triggers crime to increase because, with a large number of unemployed people, they have to make ends meet even though they have no money. But if public awareness can increase, it can reduce the number of people who gamble and can even reduce the number of gambling addictions. They can also start trying by creating their own business. The important thing is that they can survive and make money from what they do instead of gambling.

The concept that the government should monitor adults' gambling is absurd. It's like urging them to avoid fast food because it's unhealthy. People take risks despite knowing the consequences. That's exciting, right? Gambling is fun because you could win big.

Your point regarding job creation reducing gambling addiction? Correct, but it's a bandage on a bullet wound. Gamblers gamble for thrill, hope, and rapid riches, not just unemployment. Jobs help, but they won't eliminate gambling's appeal. Human nature and our continuous desire of fast remedies are at the heart of it.

[noormcs5]

What do you think about this issue where people gamble too much in countries where the vast majority of the population isn't well off? Should governments step in and restrict casinos more perhaps?

One factor I think why people spend so much on gambling more than they can afford is the lack of education and financial literacy. Countries who are poor has a citizens who don't have enough education given the fact that people prioritize surviving and taking jobs instead of studying. Majority of those people who lack financial literacy want to make money as fast as they want and some of them don't really consider the risk of gambling. Casino is a business and they don't earn money from the gamblers, I don't think that gamblers who doesn't have a proper education understand it, they are more focus in taking risk and don't think a head.

I don't buy this argument that those who do not have enough education and/or are illiterate, prefer gambling as it makes quick money. Do you mean to say that those who have no skill, will try their luck in gambling?

Well, this may be true for certain groups of people who have a lot of money to gamble, but usually, a person who is not educated means that he won't be able to get a good job and hence he won't have much money to gamble. So I do not think that those people will prefer gambling as it needs a good financial status and that only comes if you belong to an educated family.

I think it is more of the educated class, who comes to gambling because of a lack of opportunity elsewhere or because they think that gambling is a quick rich scheme.

[Mahanton]

What do you think about this issue where people gamble too much in countries where the vast majority of the population isn't well off? Should governments step in and restrict casinos more perhaps?

One factor I think why people spend so much on gambling more than they can afford is the lack of education and financial literacy. Countries who are poor has a citizens who don't have enough education given the fact that people prioritize surviving and taking jobs instead of studying. Majority of those people who lack financial literacy want to make money as fast as they want and some of them don't really consider the risk of gambling. Casino is a business and they don't earn money from the gamblers, I don't think that gamblers who doesn't have a proper education understand it, they are more focus in taking risk and don't think a head.

I don't buy this argument that those who do not have enough education and/or are illiterate, prefer gambling as it makes quick money. Do you mean to say that those who have no skill, will try their luck in gambling?

Well, this may be true for certain groups of people who have a lot of money to gamble, but usually, a person who is not educated means that he won't be able to get a good job and hence he won't have much money to gamble. So I do not think that those people will prefer gambling as it needs a good financial status and that only comes if you belong to an educated family.

I think it is more of the educated class, who comes to gambling because of a lack of opportunity elsewhere or because they think that gambling is a quick rich scheme.

Truly judgmental i should say on which it isnt really just that right to have that kind of conclusive approach into those people who dont have that proper educational background because not all the time it would really be meaning that they are really that lazy or automatically means that they would really be loving to gamble. It turns out that the citizens of those countries are really that a fan on doing gambling despite of having that kind of financial status or even just saying the economic status of their country which it isnt really that totally a huge factor that would determine whether a certain individual would really be dealing
with gambling or not. It is really that in someones full decision whether they would really be that deciding on playing or not.

Reality? Yes it is and there's nothing we can do about it. People does have the full rights on what are the things that they would gonna do.They wont really be playing if they dont have the money as simple as that.
Even if they are really that living in a country on which it doesnt have that good looking economy or state but still people are really that having a fan on dealing with gambling
and trying to check out those numbers on which it is really that talking about multi-millions. How come that they wont really be able to generate good revenue from it speaking of taxes?