Gambling is the wagering of something of value on an event with an uncertain outcome. It involves risking money or material goods and discounts instances of strategy. It can be done in many ways, including sports betting, lottery games, casinos and horse racing. While most people gamble for recreation and to make money, a small subset develop a gambling disorder that causes serious personal, family and financial problems.
It’s never been easier to place a bet, with the growing availability of online casino sites, sports betting and video games that offer chances to win big jackpots. This easy access to gambling means that more people are at risk of developing a problem. The risk is particularly high for young people and men, as well as those living in poverty. It’s thought that this is because they are more likely to have something to gain with a large win, and they are more attracted by the excitement of winning.
The onset of a gambling disorder is triggered by multiple factors, such as genetics and environmental influences. Some people have a predisposition towards becoming compulsive gamblers, while others have a history of mental health disorders that can trigger or worsen gambling addiction. Additionally, a person’s level of stress can be a contributing factor.
There are both negative and positive impacts of gambling, but studies have mostly ignored social impacts in favor of focusing on the economic costs or benefits that can be easily quantified. This method of examining the issue presents a biased view of gambling as it ignores how these effects can change someone’s life course and even pass on between generations. In order to measure social impacts, it is important to consider societal real wealth and the impact of gambling on individuals in different contexts.
The negative and positive aspects of gambling can be structured into classes, namely the financial, labor, and health and well-being impacts. These can be observed on the personal, interpersonal, and societal/community levels (Fig. 1). The former refers to the impacts that affect gamblers personally, while external impacts influence their relationships with friends and family members or society at large.
If you are struggling with a gambling problem, seek professional help from a therapist or counsellor. They can help identify the underlying cause and provide tools to manage your gambling behavior in a healthier way. They can also recommend other resources to assist with your recovery, such as marriage, career or credit counselling. Lastly, try to find other ways to relieve unpleasant feelings or boredom other than gambling. This could include exercise, spending time with friends who don’t gamble or taking up a new hobby. It’s also important to reduce financial risks by avoiding the use of credit cards and keeping a limited amount of cash with you. If you’re finding it difficult to cut down or stop gambling, talk to a therapist and set short-term and long-term goals for yourself. This will help keep you motivated on your recovery journey.
