1. Grade 8 | Unit 8.5 | Page 7
Unit 8.5
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WHY DO SOME PEOPLE DEVELOP A PROBLEM WITH
GAMBLING WHILE OTHERS DON'T? LEVELS OF CONTROL
• Do you think that most people who gamble have a problem?
• When is gambling not a problem?
• When are gamblers likely to develop serious problems?
• Gamblers who hold on to superstitions are likely to continue to gamble and
lose more and more money. Gamblers like these are likely to develop a
serious gambling problem because they think that the outcome of the game
can be controlled. In games of chance, however, it isn't possible to know
the outcome beforehand.
• Can a person, who is deciding whether to gamble or not, control his or
her decision to engage in this risky behaviour?
• Gambling, like other forms of risky behaviour, need not lead to problems
if you know that you can control the process of sensible
decision-making about risky behaviour.
• How to make sensible decisions about gambling:
P - know your reason for getting involved
R - know the risks involved.
I - judge the quality of your information. Is your information based on
superstition? On myths?
CC - be able to compromise, look for alternate ways of enjoying yourself,
or earning money
E - enjoy knowing that you are taking your chances wisely
• Can a person, who is deciding whether to gamble or not, control his or
her circumstances that are linked to encouraging risky behaviour?
• Gambling, like other forms of risky behaviour, need not lead to problems
if you know what the risky circumstances are in your community, your
family, your own personality and in your group of friends. Although you
don't have as much control over your circumstances as you do over your
own decision-making, you are to an extent able to control the
risky circumstances that tend to encourage risky behaviour.

2. • Can a person, who is deciding whether to gamble or not, control the
outcome of the gambling if it is a game of chance?
• Gambling need not lead to problems if you know that in games of chance
you have no control at all over the process that selects the
outcome.
• On the scale of control below, where would you place:
a. Decision-making process
b. Risky circumstances in which you find yourself
c. Selection process of outcomes in games of chance?
full control lesser control no control
• If you do decide to gamble (based on an informed decision), you'll also
need to know how to be a smart gambler, how to manage your
gambling behaviour responsibly.
Grade 8 | Unit 8.5 | Page 8
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