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Are online gambling and sports betting new to your area? Are gambling advertisements catching your eye? Have you noticed sports and news shows covering the spread? Recent changes in laws have made gambling widely accessible, and its popularity has soared.

Occasional bets are rarely an issue. But uncontrolled gambling can lead to financial, psychological, physical, and social consequences, some of which are extreme. Understanding whether gambling is becoming a problem in your life can help you head off the worst of these issues and refocus on having more meaning, happiness, and psychological richness in your life. Gambling screening is a good first step.

Can you screen yourself for problem gambling?

Yes. Screening yourself is easy. The Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (note: automatic download) is a validated way to screen for gambling disorder. It has three yes-or-no questions. Ask yourself:

What do your answers mean?

Answering yes to any one of these questions suggests that you are at higher risk for experiencing gambling disorder. Put simply, this is an addiction to gambling. Like other expressions of addiction, for gambling this includes loss of control, craving, and continuing despite bad consequences. Unique to gambling, it also often means chasing your losses.

A yes doesn't mean that you are definitely experiencing a problem with gambling. But it might be valuable for you to seek a more in-depth assessment of your gambling behavior. To find an organization or person qualified to help, ask a health care provider, your local department of public health, or an advocacy group like the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Are you ready for change?

Your readiness to change a behavior matters when deciding the best first steps for making a change. If someone asks you whether you want to change your gambling, what would you say?

Depending on your answer, you might seek out different solutions. What's most important initially is choosing a solution that feels like the right fit for you.

What if you don't feel ready to change? If you haven't thought about your gambling or only occasionally think about changing your gambling, you might explore lower intensity actions. For example, you could

If you are committed to making a change or are already trying to change, you might seek out more engaging resources and strategies to support those decisions, like attending self-help groups or participating in treatment.

Read on for more details on choices you might make.

What options for change are available if you want to continue gambling?

If you want to keep gambling in some way, you might want to stick to lower-risk gambling guidelines:

Other ways to reduce your risk of gambling harm include:

What are easy first steps toward reducing or stopping gambling?

If you're just starting to think about change, consider learning more about gambling, problem gambling, and ways to change from

Some YouTube clips demystify gambling, such as how slot machines work, the limits of skill and knowledge in gambling, and how gambling can become an addiction. These sources might help you think about your own gambling in new ways, potentially identifying behaviors that you need to change.

What are some slightly more active steps toward change?

If you're looking for a slightly more active approach, you can consider engaging in traditional self-help experiences such as helplines and chatlines or Gamblers Anonymous.

Another option is self-help workbooks. Your First Step to Change is a popular workbook that provides information about problem gambling, self-screening exercises for gambling and related conditions like anxiety and depression, and change exercises to get started. A clinical trial of this resource suggested that users were more likely than others to report having recently abstained from gambling.

Watch out for gambling misinformation

As you investigate options, keep in mind that the quality of information available can vary and may even include misinformation. Misinformation is incorrect or misleading information. Research suggests that some common types of gambling misinformation might reinforce harmful beliefs or risky behaviors.

For example, some gambling books, websites, and other resources exaggerate your likelihood of winning, highlight win and loss streaks as important (especially for chance-based games like slots), and suggest ways to change your luck to gain an edge. These misleading ideas can help you to believe you're more likely to win than you actually are, and set you up for failure.

The bottom line

Taking a simple self-screening test can start you on a journey toward better gambling-related health. Keep in mind that change can take time and won't necessarily be a straight path.

If you take a step toward change and then a step back, nothing is stopping you from taking a step forward again. Talking with a care provider and getting a comprehensive assessment can help you understand whether formal treatment for gambling is a promising option for you.

Source: Harvard Health Publishing

A lawyer has shared his experience of helping his co-tenants with water, only to find one selling it to others.

He said they have not had electricity in three days. He reserved his generator for times like this so he could pump water with it for himself and co tenants. He has always done this without asking anyone for a dime.

He found out yesterday that as soon as he switched on the Gen, a tenant bypassed the water to the reservoir and she was selling the water to neighbors. The main apartment that was supposed to have water didn’t. He was using petrol to pump water, someone is selling it and making cool cash. Why are humans so s£lfish and gr££dy?

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Despite uncertainty over the next occupant of the White House and the economic policies that may ensue, major U.S. equities indexes pushed higher as voters headed to the polls on Election Day. However, investors are likely bracing for market volatility if the outcome remains undetermined over the coming days.

The S&P 500 jumped 1.2% on Tuesday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq surged 1.4%, while the Dow added 1.0%.

The top performance in the S&P 500 on Election Day belonged to analytics software provider Palantir Technologies (PLTR), whose shares skyrocketed 23.4%. The surge in the stock came after Palantir reported better-than-expected revenue and net income for the third quarter. Palantir's CEO highlighted "unrelenting AI demand" as a key driver of the company's strong performance.

Engine manufacturer Cummins (CMI) also reported third-quarter sales and profits that exceeded analysts' forecasts, and its shares popped 9.0% higher. Although sales were essentially flat year-over-year, Cummins increased its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), reflecting margin expansion.

Emerson Electric (EMR) shares surged 7.2% after the industrial technology and engineering company topped quarterly sales and profit estimates, boosted by growth in its Intelligent Devices segment. The firm also announced plans to acquire the remaining stake in Aspen Technology (AZPN), an automation software provider already under Emerson's partial control, in an effort to enhance its position in the industrial automation market.

Shares of Celanese (CE) plummeted 26.3%, the steepest drop of any S&P 500 stock on Tuesday, after the chemical supplier's third-quarter sales and profits fell short of expectations. Softness in key end markets, including paints, coatings, and construction, weighed on the company's performance, along with declines in the automotive and industrial sectors in the Western Hemisphere. Celanese also cut its dividend and announced plans to scale back production, suggesting it expects headwinds to persist.

Casino operator Wynn Resorts (WYNN) also reported weaker-than-expected top- and bottom-line results for the third quarter, and its shares dropped 9.3%. A slowdown in Wynn's Las Vegas operations contributed to the shortfall, while the company's results in Macau were mixed. Wynn also noted an investment of $18.2 million during the quarter in its joint venture that is under construction in the United Arab Emirates.

Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) shares fell 6.0% after the agricultural commodities maker canceled its scheduled earnings conference call and announced that it would restate previous financial results. The company said that, along with previously disclosed issues that led to a prior restatement, it has discovered additional accounting inaccuracies affecting several segments, noting that it is working to complete the restatements as soon as possible. ADM also provided preliminary third-quarter results that came in below forecasts.

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Lagos socialite Roman Goddess has shared her observation about the Baltasar Engonga ‘workout videos.

He said watching the videos of this Guinea man who slept with 400 women and so far all she has seen are women who are well covered, no tattgos, no wi€rd looks, just innocent and decent looking women but we are quick to judge w£ird looking girls with tattgos.

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Tuesday’s general election has been top-of-mind for American consumers and businesses lately, and corporate America will be happy for it to be over.

The word “election” has been mentioned during nearly two-fifths of S&P 500 earnings calls so far this quarter, according to a recent analysis of transcripts by FactSet Research. Executives are even talking about the election more than they did in 2020. 

One of the most common statements executives have made about the election this quarter is that the uncertainty surrounding it has delayed some business. Companies across all sorts of sectors have said some of their customers, both commercial and consumer, are waiting until after the election results are known to commit to some big projects.

Executives at home improvement and agricultural products retailer Tractor Supply Co. (TSCO) said, “spending leading up to the federal election will be dampened both just with distraction as well as a little bit of just wait-and-see mode.” Technology manufacturer Jabil (JBL) echoed Tractor Supply's “wait-and-see” comments, noting clients in the electric vehicle (EV) and renewable energy industries were being particularly cautious. 

IT products and services provider CDW Corp. (CDW), which has a unit dedicated solely to serving clients in government and education, said uncertainty about the election had “dampened not only government spending, but also other public sector end markets, as well as spend from commercial customers.” 

Homebuilders have also felt the pinch, with election uncertainty clouding the outlook for interest rates. Executives at Pultegroup (PHM) said the “nonstop barrage” of news leading up to the election had created “a lot of uncertainty” that, along with expectations for lower interest rates next year, was keeping homebuyers on the sidelines.

Banks have noticed a reluctance on the part of clients to pull the trigger on financing for big investments as well. “Despite recent interest rate cuts and the possibility of more, customers are hesitant to make capital expenditures until the resolution of the election,” said executives at Regions Financial (RF). Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) leaders said election unknowns were compelling businesses to pay down debt instead of investing in growth. 

Several companies expressed optimism that business will pick up once the election is over. Homebuilder D.R. Horton's (DHI) chief operating officer, Michael J. Murray, said: “I think everybody would be happy the election is over. I think that will help buyer sentiment and the ability to move forward with their life decision.”

Executives at wholesale food distributor Sysco Corp. (SYY) said they were "cautiously optimistic" that Americans would dine out more after the election. Executives at waste collection company Republic Services (RSG) noted there is always "a little bit of paralysis" with an election, but that stalled "jobs are starting to move here in the fourth quarter."

Trade and tariffs have been the most-discussed policy issues so far this earnings season, according to FactSet's analysis. Seven companies, ranging from shoemaker Deckers Outdoors (DECK) to steel producer Nucor (NUE), have commented on the possibility of higher tariffs and assured investors they are preparing for various outcomes. 

Despite referring often to the 2024 election, few companies have mentioned either of the candidates by name—just three S&P 500 company executives have mentioned “Harris” on their call, while six have mentioned “Trump,” according to the FactSet research.

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