Gambling May Increase Happiness According to Medical Studies

The gambling industry has experienced explosive growth during the pandemic, and the number of gamblers signing into online betting sites has skyrocketed. At the same time, this could lead to a potential uptick in gambling addiction which already affects 2 million Americans. But there’s some good news: a growing body of medical literature is also focusing on the potential benefits of gambling.

In one recent multi-component analysis study published in the Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, researchers found that gambling may have some positive health benefits for gamblers. They examined the effects of gambling on nursing home residents, and the results were quite promising. For starters, scientists discovered that gambling elevated their quality of life.

In particular, they noted that elderly people who gambled often and predictably had a wider social support network reported fewer cases of depression, and were healthier, too. As such, they concluded that getting involved in simulated gambling activities may help boost your happiness levels.

Gambling versus TV

The study demonstrated that indulging in hobby gambling can boost your happiness and positively enhance your mood. But that’s not all. The results of analytic research also showed that the elderly who gambled recreationally were much happier, less depressed, and had higher self-reported health than non-gambling counterparts.

More than that, the study found that the happiness level of the participants went up while they gambled. Even better, it showed that people gambled as a source of entertainment were happier than individuals who preferred watching TV. From these interesting findings, it would be safe to say that recreational gambling is a great way to improve your happiness, health, and overall well-being.

These findings are in line with an earlier study conducted by Northeastern University researchers. In this particular study, scientists concluded that gambling may offer elderly individuals some mental health benefits because it engages one’s memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills. Gambling is also a social-centric activity that may help lower the risk of anxiety, depression, and mental health issues.

It is generally believed that recreational gambling has the potential to generate physiological and psychological benefits, especially for elderly people. It not only provides a certain level of social support but may also improve their quality of life.

Entertainment and Happiness Level

When all’s said and done, the mental and physiological benefits of gambling comes down to its essence as a form of entertainment. That’s definitely one of the biggest reasons why it increases your level of happiness. While there’s a possibility of losing money, recreational gambling is usually financially harmless yet incredibly entertaining and engaging.

And for older adults, engaging in recreational gambling is not just an entertaining activity that’s easy to do; scientists also believe that it’s a highly therapeutic and memory-enhancing activity. This can come in handy during the pandemic as more Americans are anxious and worried about their health, families, and jobs. Best of all, the study showed that gambling is not only fun and great for your happiness, but it may also increase your life-span.

Finding Happiness Online

Against this background, more Americans are going online to wager on poker, sports, virtual casino games, and even horse races. But not all online betting sites are reputable and trustworthy, let alone legal. That’s why many gamblers are turning to online review sites to figure out where to gamble online next.

That said, there are several tried-and-true ways to zero in on a legal, reliable, and reputable gambling platform. Reading online reviews is perhaps your best bet. Check out expertly-written and deeply-researched reviews of the leading online gambling sites. With online review sites like Legitimatecasino.com, you will get unbiased, accurate, and thorough reviews put together by industry pros, making it easy for you to pick the crème de la crème of online casinos, sportsbook, poker sites, and other internet gambling destinations.

After reading reviews, the next move is to create a list of 5-10 top candidates. Make sure that each potential betting site on your list is fully regulated and licensed by the respective gambling commission. A gambling license guarantees that the online betting site is secure, safe, and fair. The gambling regulator will also come to your rescue if the site fails to pay your winnings, closes your account unfairly, or engages in illegal activity.

In order to enjoy a trouble-free online gambling experience, the betting site should take multiple measures to protect your privacy and data safety. Good thing, most of them use advanced security technologies like SSL to safeguard your banking details and other pieces of sensitive information.

When it comes to choosing online gambling platforms, one of the things you should evaluate is the quantity and quality of available free offers. These usually come in the form of no-deposit bonuses, welcome bonuses, deposit match bonuses, free spins, and reload bonuses.

It also pays to check out the terms and conditions tied to those promotions and bonuses. After all, not all bonuses offered by online casinos and sports betting sites are going to benefit you. In order to evaluate whether a particular bonus is worthwhile, be sure to check its wagering and cash-out requirements. There’s simply no reason to claim a bonus with a 100x playthrough.

Another important factor that you should consider is the range of deposit and withdrawal methods offered by the site. You should be able to choose from a variety of safe and secure payment methods, such as Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Skrill, online bank transfer, Play+, and American Express, among others. You should be able to fund your account and cash out your winnings securely and quickly using a banking method that you frequently use and already trust.

Customer support quality is another key element of a reputable and trustworthy online gambling site. The platform that you are considering should offer quick and responsive support via live chat, phone, email, and maybe social media. Chances are you may need help with delayed payouts, login issues, and claiming bonuses. It’s often a huge relief to know that a superb customer support team has your back.