Gambling involves placing a value on an activity that is primarily chance in the hope of winning. It has been a part of virtually every society since prerecorded history and has become embedded in many customs and rites of passage. Despite its widespread popularity, gambling is not without its risks. It can cause significant distress and impairment, particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly and young people. Pathological gambling is characterized by a compulsive urge to gamble despite the negative consequences. It is considered a psychological disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition).
Although gambling doesn’t require ingesting chemical substances, it can trigger the same neurological response that drugs do by activating certain regions in the brain. This “feel-good” response can become addictive, and it encourages a person to continue gambling even after experiencing repeated losses. Gambling addiction is more common among people with lower incomes, and young people are especially susceptible to developing it. It is also more prevalent among men than women, and people who have a family history of substance abuse are at increased risk.
The psychological effects of gambling can lead to serious problems, such as financial stress, relationship breakdown, family violence and mental illness. It can also have intergenerational impacts and create a legacy of harm that endures throughout a person’s life. It can also interfere with work, school and social activities. Gambling harm can be mitigated through public health interventions, including universal pre-commitment systems that require individuals to set binding time and money limits and self-exclusion from gambling providers. Universal and mandatory systems have the highest uptake, whereas voluntary systems tend to be unenforceable.
Behavioral research has shown that many people with gambling disorders have difficulty stopping the behavior when they are losing, especially if their losses are large. They may have difficulty recognizing when they’re in trouble and will try to justify their continued gambling by saying that they are just “trying to win back their losses.” This thinking is referred to as the “gambler’s fallacy,” and it is one of the most common cognitive distortions observed in problem gamblers. People who are unable to stop gambling often engage in other compulsive behaviors, such as over-eating, over-spending, and substance abuse. They are also prone to depression and feelings of helplessness. These behaviors can make them less likely to seek treatment. They are also less likely to report having good coping skills, and are more likely to blame others or themselves for their gambling problems. They may lie to friends and family members or use illegal activities such as theft and embezzlement to finance their gambling. They are also more likely to have suicidal thoughts. These factors contribute to the high suicide rate among those with gambling disorders. This is why it’s important to seek treatment as soon as you notice that your gambling is causing distress. This article was written by PsychCentral Medical Director Dr. Judith Hershman, MD, ABNP.