Gambling is any activity in which something of value (like money or property) is risked on the basis of chance outcomes that are outside of a player’s control. This can include lotteries, sports betting, and casino games – such as card or table games.
The development of a gambling problem can affect anyone. However, it is more common in men than women, and younger people tend to be more at risk. The increased availability of gaming products, the normalization of gambling through new commercial associations with sport and other cultural activities, and the aggressive promotion of gambling in both public and private domains are all driving an uptake of gambling that is resulting in increasing harm.
Some forms of gambling are not easily classifiable as an addiction, including the play of card or board games with friends in a social setting and bets on football or horse races within a social group. These bets are usually small and are made for fun, but they may also involve wagering real money. Other types of gambling are more formally organized, such as lottery or slot machines, and are often regulated by laws.
Although gambling is not generally a cause of mental illness, some individuals who develop a pathological gambling disorder (gambling addiction) find that they cannot control their urges to gamble, even after making repeated attempts to stop and relapse. It is not unusual for these individuals to have other psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse, depression, or anxiety.
While the concept of addiction has shifted in recent times, many clinicians believe that pathological gambling is similar to other addictive behaviors. This view has influenced the classification and description of pathological gambling in the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association.
A primary reason for the popularity of gambling is that it offers an escape from reality. By offering the illusion of wealth through the possibility of winning, it appeals to our desires for power and possessions. This is particularly true of electronic and video games that are based on micro-transactions and payments. The Bible teaches that we should not put our hope in riches and earthly treasures, but rather in God’s righteousness (2 Timothy 6:10).
Gambling erodes the biblical work ethic by fostering the idea that there is a way to get something for nothing. It is this belief that denies the sovereignty of God over our lives and glorifies luck and superstition (Job 42:2; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16-17). Moreover, it can encourage laziness, which the Bible condemns as sinful (Proverbs 14:23). People who have a gambling disorder are at greater risk of suicide than people with other addictions or illnesses. (1)