If you’ve been around casinos or online gambling sites, chances are you have seen at least some of these players in action. Each type has its style and approach to the game – betting big on risky moves or taking a more conservative approach with smaller bets. Some may even try to use their knowledge and skill to outmaneuver the house! Knowing which gambler you most closely resemble can help inform your strategy when playing any given game.
So what exactly are the nine types of gamblers? Let’s find out! We will discuss who they are, why do people gamble, and what strategies they tend to employ while playing various games.
Here are the 9 types of gamblers:
- Social Gambler
- Deadly Serious Social Gambler
- Professional Gambler
- Cautious Gambler
- Adrenaline Gambler
- Dirty Gambler
- Online Gambler
- Escape Gambler
- Compulsive Gambler
The Social Gambler
Social gamblers come in two forms: casual social gamblers and serious social gamblers. Casual social gamblers may engage in gambling for fun, usually with friends or family members, but do not normally have a problem stopping when it’s time to call it quits.
A social gambler enjoys the social aspects of gambling more than gambling itself. It could be the lady going to the bingo hall once a week to chit-chat with her friends while waiting for the “correct” numbers to come up. Winning or losing doesn’t matter.
The risk for problem gambling among social gamblers is small. Gambling for entertainment is the only way we consider a person can gamble responsibly. Still, it’s important to understand if the gambling pattern shifts. Problem gamblers become so focused on winning that they often forget how to enjoy life outside of gambling. More about that later.
The Deadly Serious Social Gamblers
The Deadly Serious Social Gambler is not a problem gambler. But we have all encountered them. Who is it in your family? A serious social gambler is a person that loves competing and winning. It might be your grandpa who hates losing in card games, table games, or any other competition you have at home. For a deadly serious social gambler, winning is very important, even if it is more important than the amount one wins.
When you have a dire social gambler at your table, you better “let them win”, or the night will be ruined. While this type of gambler can sometimes be risky, they are not addicted to the activity like compulsive pathological gamblers.
Serious Social Gamblers may sometimes show symptoms of gambling problems. But since these individuals typically don’t bet large amounts, they usually don’t experience severe financial losses associated with problem gambling. They need to keep an eye on their behaviors and gambling habits, so they do not fall into the trap of excessive betting, which can lead to more severe forms of addiction.
The Professional Gamblers
Professional gamblers are like the mythical phoenix, rising from the ashes to conquer any gambling activities. Unlike other gamblers, they are not driven by addiction or an uncontrollable urge for higher risk; instead, their success in gambling comes from discipline and experience. (Many professional gamblers also have gambling problems, but the difference is that they keep winning.)
Here’s a list of what makes a professional gambler:
- They play games where skills can determine the outcome. (Never slots)
- They have considerable knowledge about the games they play.
- They understand the odds, risks, and rewards associated with the game.
- They understand luck’s role in each round and the statistic’s role over time.
- They employ strategies that increase their chances of winning over time.
Professional gamblers take calculated risks based on reliable information while managing their bankrolls skillfully and responsibly. Professional gamblers know their luck will vary in the short run, but skills determine a game like a poker over time.
We have several professional poker players among our friends. They have all said that they gamble too much. A fine line exists between being a professional gambler and developing a gambling addiction. The key is understanding why you gamble and testing what happens when you don’t gamble for a while.
The Cautious Gambler
The Cautious Gambler only gambles occasionally and is not addicted to gambling. They may buy lottery tickets or play a few slot machines, but they don’t typically pursue more serious forms of gambling such as sports betting or card playing.
This type of gambler can be found in all age groups and genders, though it’s most common among seniors. While their gambling habits are usually quite safe, this type of gambler could, over time, become more adventurous with their wagers.
Professional gamblers also fit into this category since even experienced players tend to take calculated risks when making bets. Most professional bettors will start slow and increase their stakes gradually as they gain experience and confidence in their skills.
Casual social gamblers also fall into the cautious gambler group, as these people rarely engage in high-stakes games or tournaments simply for entertainment. Instead, they often choose low-risk gaming options with minimal financial risk while offering some fun and excitement.
The Adrenaline Gambler
The adrenaline gambler is a type of gambler who loves the thrill and excitement that gambling brings. These gamblers are gambling for the rush. They take high risks, not only with money but also in their behavior. Gamblers driven by the rush tend to be at higher risk of becoming addicted, as they continuously seek out new thrills and experiences while playing. It can lead to compulsive gambling or problematic gambling behaviors such as chasing losses and trying to recoup financial losses.
Adrenaline gamblers often feel like they need to win for their experience to be meaningful. This type of gambler may not even realize that he or she has developed a gambling disorder until it’s too late. They are likely to have an intense feeling of euphoria when winning, but this doesn’t last long, and soon enough, they start looking for another high-risk activity or game to bet on. These types of gamblers are more prone than others to take considerable risks, which could result in significant financial losses if not managed properly. In short, these individuals risk it all for the heightened emotions associated with gambling; however, what starts as harmless fun can quickly become an uncontrollable habit with severe consequences.
The Dirty Gamblers
In contrast to the other types of gamblers mentioned earlier, which involve legal activities that may become problematic, personality gamblers, also known as antisocial or dirty gamblers, engage in illegal behavior.
These individuals are determined to make substantial profits through gambling, resorting to any means necessary. They may deceive, cheat, steal, or lie to other players or those in charge to secure a win. Their methods range from simple tricks, such as hiding a card in their sleeve, to complex schemes, like orchestrating a race or sports event fix.
While gambling concerns personality gamblers, it is crucial to recognize that their criminal actions and mental health issues may require equal attention from professionals. Understanding what drives the individual’s behavior is essential for helping them overcome their problem before it becomes too late. Professional help should be sought immediately to provide appropriate problem gambling treatment and achieve long-term success.
The Online Gambler
The online gambler is one of the nine types of gamblers. Online gamblers often participate in various activities such as sports betting, casino games, poker, and other forms of online gambling. They may also play lottery-style games or bet on horses from afar without leaving their home.
Online gambling is increasing rapidly in all age groups, online gambling is normalizing gambling in communities that previously didn’t gamble. Typical characteristics of an online gambler:
- Gambling on the go or staying at home.
- Often hides their gambling.
- Gamble on the mobile.
Since gambling is accessible 24/7 online, there is a risk that online gamblers use gambling as a coping mechanism for everyday things. People need to be aware of the signs associated with a betting problem so they can seek help before it becomes too serious.
The Escape Gamblers
Moving away from the online gambler, let us look at another type: The relief and escape gamblers. This kind of gambler is typically motivated by relief or an escape from stress and negative emotions. Gambling behavior in this group often involves unsuccessful attempts to cope with distressing events such as substance abuse, depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues.
The following list gives three main characteristics of the relief and escape gamblers:
- They gamble to distract themselves from their current life situation.
- They have a lot of pain inside them, which makes it hard to control their urges when it comes to gambling.
- They aren’t gambling because it’s fun. It’s the escape that is the primary purpose of their gambling.
The relief and escape gamblers might not be aware of their decisions’ long-term consequences and may engage in compulsive gambling. Pathological gamblers tend to become obsessed with betting on games for monetary gain without considering their potential effects on their lives. As a result, they may find themselves stuck in a never-ending cycle of debt and despair if they fail to seek help. Therefore, it is important for individuals who identify with these traits to get professional assistance before things spiral out of control.
Compulsive Gamblers
Compulsive gamblers have a hard time controlling their urge to gamble. In the DSM 5, a book used by mental health professionals, gambling addiction is classified as a Substance-Related and Addictive Disorder (it used to be called an impulse control disorder).
If you have ever been to a casino at 6 AM, you can see compulsive gamblers sitting (half asleep) in front of the slot machines. If it was you who were gambling, then you should probably seek gambling addiction support. Naturally, there are compulsive gamblers online, at the racetracks, and betting on sports.
- Spending too much time playing games of chance
- Trying and failing to cut down or quit betting
- Not stopping gambling even when it causes trouble with friends, family, school, or home.
- Always trying to win back what was lost in the last game
These gamblers can’t stop themselves from gambling, even if it causes devastating problems in their lives. It may lead to money troubles, issues with friends and family, and feelings of depression or anxiety. If gambling addicts want help with their problem, they may need to talk to a professional.
Need Help To Stop Gambling?
If you want to stop gambling, there are some resources on QuitGamble.com that you might want to check out. We recommend anyone do the Happiness Test. The test will not tell you if you have a gambling problem. Instead, it tries to help you understand why stopping gambling is so hard.
You can also read our guide on How to stop gambling in 9 steps and join the online community with over 4,200 members. QuitGamble.com is an exclusive platform for problem gamblers and their relatives. Good luck!