Gambling is the wagering of money or something else with value, on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and material goods. The outcome of the wager is evident within a short period.
The term gaming in this context refers to instances in which the activity has been specifically permitted by law. The two words are not mutually exclusive; a “gaming” company offers (legal) “gambling” activities to the public. This difference is not universally observed in the English-speaking world. For example, in the UK, the regulator of gambling activities is called the Gambling Commission (not the Gaming Commission).
Types of gambling:
CASINO gambling
While almost any game can be played for money, and any game typically played for money can be also played just for fun, some games are generally offered in casino setting.
Table games examples:
•Blackjack
•Caribbean Stud Poker
•Casino war
•Craps
•Fan-Tan
•Faro
•Let It Ride
•Pai Gow Poker and Tiles
•Poker
•Pyramid Poker
•Red Dog
•Roulette
•Sic bo
•Spanish 21
•Teen Patti
•Texas Hold'em Bonus Poker
Electronic games:
•Pachinko
•Slot machine
•Video poker
Other gambling:
•Bingo
•Keno
Non-casino gambling games:
Gambling games that take place outside of casinos include Bingo (as played in the US and UK), dead pool, lotteries, pull-tab games and scratchcards, and Mahjong.
Other non-casino gambling games include:
•Card games, such as Liar's poker, Bridge, Basset, Lansquenet, Piquet, Put, Teen patti
•Carnival Games such as The Razzle or Hanky Pank
•Coin-tossing games such as Head and Tail, Two-up*
•Confidence tricks such as Three-card Monte or the Shell game
•Dice-based games, such as Backgammon, Liar's dice, Passe-dix, Hazard, Threes, Pig, or Mexico
*Although coin tossing isn't usually played in a casino, it has been known to be an official gambling game in some Australian casinos.
Psychological aspects
Studies show that though many people participate in gambling as a form of recreation or even as a means to gain an income, gambling, like any behavior which involves variation in brain chemistry, can become a psychologically addictive and harmful behavior in some people. Reinforcement schedules may also make gamblers continue in gambling even after repeated losses.
The Russian writer Dostoevsky (problem gambler) portrays in his novella The Gambler the psychological implications of gambling and how gambling can affect gamblers. He also associates gambling and the idea of "getting rich quick", suggesting that Russians may have a particular affinity for gambling. Dostoevsky shows the effect of betting money for the chance of gaining more in 19th-century Europe. The association between Russians and gambling has fed legends of the origins of Russian roulette.
Betting
One of the most widespread forms of gambling involves betting on horse or greyhound racing. Wagering may take place through parimutuel pools, or bookmakers may take bets personally. Parimutuel wagers pay off at prices determined by support in the wagering pools, while bookmakers pay off either at the odds offered at the time of accepting the bet; or at the median odds offered by track bookmakers at the time the race started.
Sports betting
Betting on team sports has become an important service industry in many countries. For example, millions of Britons play the football pools every week. In addition to organized sports betting, both legal and illegal, there are many side-betting games played by casual groups of spectators, such as NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket Pools, Super Bowl Squares, Fantasy Sports Leagues with monetary entry fees and winnings, and in-person spectator games like Moundball.
Arbitrage betting
Arbitrage betting is a theoretically risk-free betting system in which every outcome of an event is bet upon so that a known profit will be made by the bettor upon completion of the event, regardless of the outcome. Arbitrage betting is a combination of the ancient art of arbitrage trading and gambling, which has been made possible by the large numbers of bookmakers in the marketplace, creating occasional opportunities for arbitrage.
Other types of betting
One can also bet with another person that a statement is true or false, or that a specified event will happen (a "back bet") or will not happen (a "lay bet") within a specified time. This occurs in particular when two people have opposing but strongly-held views on truth or events. Not only do the parties hope to gain from the bet, they place the bet also to demonstrate their certainty about the issue. Some means of determining the issue at stake must exist. Sometimes the amount bet remains nominal, demonstrating the outcome as one of principle rather than of financial importance.
