What You Need to Know About Gambling in China
Whether you’re interested in state-sanctioned casino gambling, Internet-based gambling, or gambling that takes place at ancient Chinese temples, you’ll find the information you need here.
Ancient Chinese evidence of gambling
Whether or not Ancient Chinese gambling was more or less a thing of the past is debatable. Some of the earliest known archaeological evidence of gambling dates back to the Xia and Shang dynasties. However, there is no doubt that Ancient Chinese had a long history of gambling as a pastime.
Gambling is the art of placing wagers on uncertain events in the hopes of winning money. This includes sports betting, horse and dog races, and bookmaking. Some states have laws that govern gambling, and other states will not allow it. Some gamblers are also addicted to the game and require professional assistance.
State-sanctioned casino gambling
Several state governments collect revenue from gambling, including casinos, sports betting and video games. In fiscal year 2020, state and local governments collected $30 billion in gambling revenue. This represented one percent of the state and local general revenue. This may sound like a lot of money, but gambling is only a portion of the total revenue that the government receives.
State and local governments collected more than $1 billion from sports betting, $1.5 billion from video games and less than $200 million from parimutuel wagering. State governments also collected a share of revenues from tribal casinos through revenue-sharing agreements.
Compulsive gambling
Despite the fact that compulsive gambling can be a devastating problem, it is still treatable. The treatment may include medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
In some cases, antidepressants and mood stabilizers may be effective in treating the disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is also a useful form of treatment. It focuses on teaching problem gamblers how to deal with uncomfortable feelings and change their unhealthy thoughts about gambling.
Some people with gambling problems also have co-occurring mental health disorders. It is a good idea to speak with your health care provider to determine whether you have these conditions. You may also want to consider a self-help group.
Internet-based gambling
During the early 1990s, Internet-based gambling became a common phenomenon. It was easy to find an online gambling site, and anyone with a web browser could place a wager. These casinos appeared to be an end run around government control.
However, despite the popularity of Internet-based gambling, little research has explored overall gambling participation or the subgroups of gamblers most at risk for problem gambling. A new study examined this issue by identifying subgroups of gamblers who were most likely to have problems.
The study examined 4,594 respondents who completed an online survey on gambling participation. The respondents were divided into three groups: Internet-only (IG), land-based only (LBG), and mixed-mode (MMG). The survey also asked participants about their gambling problems. The results revealed that the proportion of problem gamblers was higher among those who played electronic gaming machines than those who played land-based games.