Gambling involves risking money or something of value in a game of chance, such as on the lottery, fruit machines, casino games, betting with friends or even on sports events. It’s about trying to predict the outcome of an event – like a football match, a horse race or a scratchcard – and winning money if you are correct. But there are risks involved, including addiction.
There are four main reasons why someone might gamble – for social reasons, to make money, for enjoyment or to escape boredom or stress. Some people have underlying mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety, that can be triggered by gambling and made worse. People may also use gambling as a way to distract themselves from other problems they are facing, such as financial difficulties, relationship conflicts or work-related stress.
Most people will engage in some form of gambling at some point during their life, usually as a leisure activity. This is a normal part of a social life, but some people become addicted to it and start to gamble more than they should. This can have serious consequences for their health and wellbeing, as well as those around them.
People can develop a gambling problem regardless of the type of gambling they participate in, from scratchcards to online casinos and sports betting. But some people will be at greater risk of developing a problem because of their family history, traumatic or stressful experiences, and/or their personality characteristics, such as impulsivity, boredom susceptibility or low self-esteem.
Despite the fact that gambling doesn’t involve ingesting chemical substances, it can cause the same kind of dopamine release as some illegal drugs. This is because gambling stimulates the same reward circuits as a drug does, and it is often used as a form of escapism and to meet basic human needs, such as a sense of achievement and belonging. Casinos are designed to foster feelings of status and specialness, and they can be particularly attractive to those with these traits.
It is important to understand why someone might be at risk of gambling addiction in order to help them overcome it. Some of the main factors include an early big win, boredom susceptibility, a poor understanding of random events and/or a lack of healthy coping mechanisms. People can also develop a skewed perception of what is ‘normal’ and overestimate how much they gamble, which makes it hard for them to recognise when they are having a problem.
Ultimately, it is not the person’s fault that they are having a problem with gambling – but it’s up to them to seek help and change their behaviour. It’s also useful to be aware that there are different kinds of help available, depending on the type of gambling they have a problem with. These services can range from support groups to counselling, and many offer help for both the person experiencing a problem with gambling and their significant others.