Gambling is a form of entertainment that involves risking something of value on a random event with the hope of winning something else of value. This can include betting on sporting events, lottery games and casino games. It also includes activities that involve skill such as card games, board games and musical instruments. Most people who gamble do so responsibly, but there are those whose gambling can become problematic.
Problematic gambling is often associated with a variety of psychological and emotional symptoms. The main signs of a gambling disorder are a loss of control over gambling behaviour, increased amounts of time spent gambling and financial problems. It is believed that these symptoms may result from a combination of genetic, environmental and psychological factors.
Some studies suggest that people who develop gambling disorders have an underactive reward system in the brain and are prone to thrill-seeking behaviours. Others have found that a particular brain chemical, dopamine, is released in response to gambling and can lead to addiction. The development of a dopamine response can make gambling addictive, especially when it is paired with a rewarding environment, such as a casino.
Many people use gambling as a way to self-soothe unpleasant feelings or unwind. It can provide a short term relief from stress and boredom, but this is often at a high cost to the person’s life in terms of money, relationships, work performance or health. It is important to find healthy ways to cope with unwanted emotions, such as exercise, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, learning new skills and practicing relaxation techniques.
The prevalence of gambling problems is increasing, with estimates that up to 5% of people who gamble develop a gambling disorder. In the United States alone, this equates to more than 25 million adults. Young people, especially males, are more susceptible to developing gambling problems than older people. This is likely due to their greater exposure to casinos and other forms of gambling, which are designed to reinforce the behaviour with a variety of stimuli including flashing lights, ringing bells and clanging coins as they are dropped into collection bins on slot machines.
It is possible to recover from a gambling disorder, but it can take a long time, particularly if the behaviour has developed into an addiction. Treatment options include peer support groups such as GamCare and Gamblers Anonymous, which is based on the 12-step recovery model of Alcoholics Anonymous. Individual, family and group therapy are also available to help manage problems related to gambling and to repair damaged relationships.
It is important to get help for a gambling problem early, before it has a serious impact on your finances. This can be difficult to do if you are supporting a loved one who is struggling with gambling addiction, but it is essential that bills are paid and that debts are cleared gradually rather than being left unpaid or accruing through pay day loans or other high interest borrowing.
