As people are trying their luck in the lotteries over the Lunar New Year holiday, a psychologist yesterday recommended setting a budget in advance to avoid developing a gambling addiction.
Buying scratch cards and lottery tickets is a favorite holiday activity, but sometimes players can get carried away.
An addiction is defined as repetitive and compulsive behavior, psychiatrist Yang Tsung-tsair (楊聰財) said.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
A person might be addicted to gambling if it disrupts their life to the point that they are unable to focus on other things or if they continue to gamble, even if it might bankrupt them, he said.
A sharp increase in the purchase of lottery tickets — for instance from one every week to 10 — paired with feelings of anxiety when not buying tickets could also be signs of addiction, he said.
Most people are able to exercise restraint, but some experience exhilaration bordering on euphoria when gambling, making them want to bet again, Yang said.
A little gambling does not necessarily lead to addiction, but indulging too much or too often could increase the risk, he said.
Stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness and feelings of frustration could make people more susceptible to seeking solace in gambling, while others also feel pressured by friends or social circles, he added.
Setting budgets, and seeking other entertainment and psychological support are all ways to avoid the risks associated with gambling, Yang said.
Setting a stop-loss to quit betting within an affordable amount enables a gambler to have fun while insulating themselves from the threat of addiction, he said.
Yang also recommended pursuing other leisure activities such as travel or watching movies to direct one’s focus away from gambling, as well as seeking support from friends, family or a psychologist.
In related news, Taiwan Lottery data show that Taichung had the most scratch-off jackpot winners last year.
A total of 1,092 scratch-off tickets worth NT$1 million (US$31,890) or more were issued before the Lunar New Year last year, 1,087 of which were purchased.
Taichung had the most winners at 164, followed by New Taipei City with 157 and Kaohsiung with 138.
This year, the number of jackpot-winning tickets issued for the holiday reached a record 1,351, Taiwan Lottery said.
Of them, the “20 million Super Red Envelope” (2,000萬超級紅包) costing NT$2,000 per ticket has eight grand prizes of NT$20 million, 10 second-place prizes of NT$2 million plus a chance to win a 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA180 sports utility vehicle, and 1,000 third-place prizes of NT$1 million.
As of Sunday, two grand prizes, four second prizes and 150 third prizes had been claimed.
Additional reporting by Cheng Chi-fang
ANOTHER EMERGES: The CWA yesterday said this year’s fourth storm of the typhoon season had formed in the South China Sea, but was not expected to affect Taiwan Tropical Storm Gaemi has intensified slightly as it heads toward Taiwan, where it is expected to affect the country in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 8am yesterday, the 120km-radius storm was 800km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving at 9kph northwest, the agency said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued tonight at the earliest, it said, adding that the storm is projected to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday. Gaemi’s potential effect on Taiwan remains unclear, as that would depend on its direction, radius and intensity, forecasters said. Former Weather Forecast
As COVID-19 cases in Japan have been increasing for 10 consecutive weeks, people should get vaccinated before visiting the nation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said. The centers reported 773 hospitalizations and 124 deaths related to COVID-19 in Taiwan last week. CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) on Tuesday said the number of weekly COVID-19 cases reported in Japan has been increasing since mid-May and surpassed 55,000 cases from July 8 to July 14. The average number of COVID-19 patients at Japan’s healthcare facilities that week was also 1.39 times that of the week before and KP.3 is the dominant
The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) working group for Taiwan-related policies is likely to be upgraded to a committee-level body, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said. As Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is increasingly likely to upgrade the CCP’s Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, Taiwanese authorities should prepare by researching Xi and the CCP, the report said. At the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP, which ended on Thursday last week, the party set a target of 2029 for the completion of some tasks, meaning that Xi is likely preparing to
US-CHINA TRADE DISPUTE: Despite Beijing’s offer of preferential treatment, the lure of China has dimmed as Taiwanese and international investors move out Japan and the US have become the favored destinations for Taiwanese graduates as China’s attraction has waned over the years, the Ministry of Labor said. According to the ministry’s latest income and employment advisory published this month, 3,215 Taiwanese university graduates from the class of 2020 went to Japan, surpassing for the first time the 2,881 graduates who went to China. A total of 2,300 graduates from the class of 2021 went to the US, compared with the 2,262 who went to China, the document showed. The trend continued for the class of 2023, of whom 1,460 went to Japan, 1,334 went to