There are many forms of gambling, from casino slots to table games such as roulette and poker, plus sports betting, bingo, lottery, and the list goes on. While many see gambling as a relaxed pastime for entertainment and a way to blow off some steam, that’s not the case for all.
As long as gambling is done by being financially responsible with the stake, then engaging in it can be safe and a good stress buster. But, gambling, and its many ups and downs, is not something that suits everyone.
Just as there are various types of gambling, there are different types of personality as well. Some of those traits can collide head-on with gambling to the point where it may be best to leave it alone entirely. Here is a look at how personality type can affect your gambling habits.
What’s My Personality?
There are many references to personality types out there. A quick search online will return plenty of results, and among some of the most famous are Myers-Briggs, and Enneagram. These are well-established tests that attempt to label personality, based on a spectrum, and can help to pinpoint things like extroverts and introverts.
There are numerous combinations on the scales that anyone could fit into. Traits aren’t set in stone and many other factors impact your responses and moods, but personality tests can raise an interesting point about which games may suit you the best.
The Analysts
Analysts, for example, can be a great fit for gambling. These are people who can cognitively and rationally strategize and problem-solve. When you are sitting at the table for a game of poker or blackjack, those are traits that are going to come in handy. It’s those types of games, rather than luck-based bingo or slots, that analyst types will lean towards.
Moreover, such personalities have a keen potential for accurately analysing casino bonuses, since not all promotions may benefit the player. They could easily dissect the wagering requirements and the value they could gain from each specific offer, regardless of whether they are deposit or no-deposit bonuses, like on this page with Canadian promos: https://bstcasinos.com/no-deposit-casino-bonuses/.
We include this type because it shows that there are people who may naturally be more adapted to skilled casino gambling. But on the other end of the scale, stepping away from the rational, calculated approach are the type of players that can get themselves into problems.
The Explorers
A category from the Myers-Briggs personality tests is Explorers, which is broken down into different subtypes. But in general, these are the ones who would be better off stepping as far away from casinos as possible, or who just may need a good wingman by their side to temper them.
That’s because Explorers experience life through external senses, more so than internally rationalising and strategizing. So that means they are more likely to be impulsive and the type of person you would see going all in on a hand of poker or putting everything on Number 12 on the Roulette wheel.
Explorers, however, have a great trait in that they find enjoyment from such external stimuli. So while any loss would hurt, it’s a pride to themselves that they were bold enough to enjoy the moment and live life on the edge in the first place.
Chance-based games fit better with Explorers. Things like the slots or dice games are probably going to have a higher interest, because of the immediate stimulus and risk and reward feedback.
The Inbetweeners
There are many subsets of personality types in between, like the overthinking Logisticians, or generous Protagonists who will find certain gambling options fit them better than others. Someone that is goal-oriented, like the Advocate personality type, may lean on their gut more than analytics as a way of finding stress relief, but will likely become bored if their institution doesn’t yield rewards.
Mediator types will probably be happy to play the penny slots, but would never consider going to a high-stakes game of poker. But at the end of the day, no matter the person you are, or what your personality type boils down to, everyone is at risk of gambling addiction. It’s just that some are more susceptible than others.
Gambling Addiction
Gambling can be safe, stress-relieving and fun when done properly. When it’s not, problems hit hard. Addiction is a real thing and anyone prone to slipping out of control shouldn’t be gambling, but that is easier said than done.
Things like getting angry at losses, trying to chase losses and feeling stressed when not gambling are tell-tale signs that something is off.
The natural setup of gambling affects people who are more prone to addiction. In the last 20 years, it’s estimated that around 0.4% to 2% of the population has a problem with gambling. That number rises if a person already has other addictions or disorders like mood or impulse control.
All online casino sites have Responsible Gaming links. There are tools out there to help, things like bet and deposit restrictions. It’s also possible to set up a self-exclusion from websites and access organisations that can offer support and advice.
