Gambling is risking something of value on an activity that is primarily based on chance in the hope of winning a prize. People have been gambling since prerecorded history, and the activity continues to be a widespread social practice throughout the world today. It has been incorporated into local customs and rites of passage as well as into popular entertainment. Typically, people gamble for fun or as a way to relieve unpleasant emotions and boredom. However, it is important to know that there are much healthier ways to manage these feelings than through gambling.
Many people are unaware that all types of gambling activities can be considered gambling, including lottery tickets, casino games (e.g., blackjack and poker), sports betting and online gambling. Some people are more prone to developing problems with gambling than others, but there is no one specific cause for problematic gambling. However, some common factors include:
Family and personal relationships are often impacted by gambling, especially when someone in the family becomes addicted. Other contributing factors may include underlying mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse that can both trigger gambling problems and make them worse. In addition, some communities consider gambling a part of the culture and make it difficult for individuals to recognize that they have a problem.
Some people may begin gambling for social reasons, such as playing cards with friends or placing bets on football games. Others may start for financial reasons, imagining what they could do with the money if they won or trying to recover from past losses. People may also gamble for coping reasons – to forget their worries, to feel more confident or to relax. Whatever the reason, once a person begins gambling, it can be very hard to stop.
The first step in gambling is choosing the item you want to bet on – this could be a football team to win a game or a scratchcard. Then, you match that choice to ‘odds’ set by the betting company – these are the chances of winning, for example 5/1 or 2/1. The odds are published on the ticket or scratchcard and tell you how much you might win if you’re lucky.
There are several factors that contribute to problematic gambling, including a tendency to expect an early big win, a false sense of control, boredom susceptibility, impulsivity and the use of escape coping. Individuals are also predisposed to develop gambling problems due to genetics, brain chemical responses (e.g., dopamine), and life experiences (e.g., trauma and stress). Lastly, it is important to know that gambling does not cure addiction. Therefore, treatment is needed to help someone with a gambling disorder. This can be done through family therapy, marriage counseling and career and credit counseling. In addition, physical activity has been shown to be helpful for those with gambling disorder. A national helpline is available for those seeking assistance. Getting help is the only way to overcome this devastating problem.