Gambling involves an exchange of real money for a chance at an event that will have an outcome determined, in some way, by random chance. It can be as simple as placing a bet on a team to win a football match, or buying a scratchcard and hoping to win. It can also include more sophisticated activities such as betting on horse races, online casinos and even video games.
Some people find gambling an enjoyable pastime, while others become addicted to the activity. This can have serious personal, social and financial consequences. Currently, it is estimated that around 1.5% of the population have a gambling problem (Nature Human Behaviour, 2018).
A person can develop an addiction to gambling when they are exposed to repeated, compulsive, and uncontrollable urges to gamble. This can happen for a number of reasons, including:
Those with an addiction to gambling may experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop gambling. This can be very difficult, as a gambling addiction causes the brain to alter how it processes reward information and impulse control. It can also result in a lack of healthy ways to cope with unpleasant emotions such as stress or boredom. Instead, a person with an addiction to gambling might use gambling as a way to escape from reality and/or feel good about themselves.
The addiction to gambling can affect people from all walks of life, and can lead to significant problems in family, friendships and work. This is partly due to the fact that many communities consider gambling a normal part of entertainment, and it can be hard for people to recognize when their gambling is becoming problematic.
It can also be the case that some people are genetically predisposed to impulsivity and thrill-seeking behaviours, and they can have trouble controlling their urges and weighing up risk. This can be a particular challenge for individuals who are prone to anxiety or depression.
Research shows that there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of developing an addiction to gambling, such as:
There is a lot of misinformation out there about how addictive gambling is, and it’s important to understand the facts. People often believe that gambling is a low-risk, high reward entertainment choice, but this is not true. In reality, it is a high-risk activity with very low chances of winning.
Gambling is a psychological activity, and as such, it should be treated with the same respect as any other mental health issue. The understanding of gambling addiction has changed significantly over time, and this has been reflected or stimulated by changes in the DSM nomenclature (the diagnosis books used by psychiatrists and other treatment providers).
There are many different factors that can lead to a gambling problem, including: