Os Man Corner

What type of gambler are you?

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In 2007, the UK Gambling Commission undertook a far-reaching survey on gamblers and their habits for the “British Gambling Prevalence Survey.” This week, the National Centre for Social Research conducted follow-up interviews with selected participants in the 2007 survey.

The most interesting – and thus publicized – finding? Results made possible the defining of four clear types of gambler. Which type are you?

• The Peripheral Gambler. As the description implies, this group represents the seriously casual player. Most peripheral gamblers participate in the games for the purely social aspect.

• The Gambling Enthusiast. This category defines players who may be described (and even describe themselves) as frequent gamblers, but not those with the overriding compulsion to do so characteristic of the problem gambler.

• The Business Gambler. You know that bumper crop of online poker players coming up the past five years or so? Most of them are Business Gamblers. Or wannabes. The Business Gambler is not out to have fun per se, but studies the games, seeking first and foremost to win.

• Finally, there is The Compulsive Gambler, and category which speaks for itself and one which the Bonus Monster certainly hopes you are not.

The “Qualitative follow-up of the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007” may be read in full here.