Gambling involves wagering something of value on a random event where instances of strategy are discounted. It also involves a promise of a prize, and it can lead to significant financial, personal, and cultural harm. Many people gamble for fun, but some find gambling to be addictive. In addition to the social and financial problems that can accompany pathological gambling, there is a risk of suicide. People who have mental health problems, especially depression and anxiety, are at greater risk of gambling problems. Gambling can also have negative effects on family members.
A variety of factors can contribute to the development of gambling disorders, including genetics, childhood trauma, stressors in adulthood, poverty and unemployment, social inequality (especially among women), and substance abuse. Gambling disorder can start during adolescence or later in life, and it tends to run in families. Some people with gambling disorders seek treatment, but others do not. Those who are addicted to gambling can experience severe problems with work, school, and relationships.
Although some researchers have conceptualized gambling behavior on a continuum, there is no clear dividing line between casual gambling and pathological gambling. Furthermore, there is little empirical research about the effects of legalization on the prevalence of pathological gambling. Research, however, has been conducted on the psychological and behavioral consequences of games and betting, as well as on how people’s moods and expectations influence their decisions to gamble.
It is important to understand why a person gambles to better assess whether his or her actions may be problem gambling. Some reasons for gambling include the desire to win money, a change in one’s mood, or socializing with friends. People also gamble to relieve boredom or distress, although there are healthier ways to do so, such as exercising, spending time with supportive friends who don’t gamble, enrolling in an education class, or volunteering for a worthy cause.
People may also be attracted to gambling because of the drama, thrills, and risks involved, and they might imagine that there is a higher likelihood of winning than there actually is. This illusory superiority can lead to the staking of large amounts of money. Moreover, individuals might be drawn to gambling because it is associated with status or prestige, and they might assume that the risk/reward ratio will increase as they gain experience.
Those who have gambling problems often have difficulty staying in recovery, as it can be difficult to avoid tempting environments and websites. For those in recovery, it is helpful to surround themselves with supportive friends who do not gamble and to learn new ways of relieving boredom or distressing feelings, such as taking up a hobby or practicing relaxation techniques. It is also important to establish boundaries in managing finances, such as by signing a contract to abstain from gambling. Additionally, those in recovery can join a peer support group, such as Gamblers Anonymous, which is modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous and uses peer support to help individuals maintain abstinence from gambling.
