Gambling Development

In the last thirty years, the developing world has undergone tremendous changes. Overall, poverty has fallen, people live longer and healthier lives, and economies have been transformed. And yet many countries have simply missed the boat. Why have some countries prospered, while others have failed? Stefan Dercon argues that the answer lies not in a specific set of policies, but rather in a key "development bargain," whereby a country's elites shift from protecting their own positions to gambling on a growth-based future.

Gambling is a dangerous, addictive, and expensive hobby, in fact it's the fastest growing addiction on the planet. Smart phone technology has sparked a global gambling epidemic, the temptation to gamble is now literally in the palm of our hands. Mind blowing, record breaking profits are being recorded by online casinos and sports betting companies. As a result, hard-working everyday people are gambling money they simply cannot afford to lose. I was one of the many who suffered extreme gambling addiction.

Gambling is a form of entertainment for many people, but in some cases gambling can become an addiction leading to financial problems and relationship stress. It is estimated that 6 percent of North America's population will have a gambling problem sometime in there life. Gambling addiction is a serious problem which is more common in men then women. Gambling can create a rush when you lose and win, and sometimes the user is unable to control their impulses to gamble.

The Gambler brilliantly captures the strangely powerful compulsion to bet that Dostoevsky, himself a compulsive gambler, knew so well. The hero rides an emotional roller coaster between exhilaration and despair, and secondary characters such as the grandmother, who throws much of her fortune away at the gaming tables, are unforgettable.

To be on the frontline of entrepreneurship, you must be bold and take risks. But the need to achieve can be as addictive as drugs, with serious side effects. It can make you feel isolated, uncertain, and trapped on an emotional roller-coaster ride full of euphoric highs and devastating lows. But there’s a way to get back onto solid ground. An accomplished entrepreneur and recovering gambling and drug addict, Michael Dash realized his gaming obsession and his drive to succeed were two sides of the same coin.

Why are some people compelled to take big risks on big ideas, attempting to change a market or, indeed, the world in ways that others find delusional? And why do they keep trying, again and again, often after repeated failures and at great personal expense? Neil Seeman is one of those people: an internet entrepreneur steeped in North American start-up culture. He is also the son of one of Canada's most important brain scientists.