Gambling involves wagering something of value (usually money) on an activity with a random outcome. It may be a game of chance or one that requires skill, such as playing cards or sports. It can occur in many places including casinos, racetracks, and on the Internet. It is important to understand the risks of gambling so that people can take steps to protect themselves.
People can develop gambling problems at any age and from all walks of life. Some factors that increase the risk of developing a problem include gender, family history, depression and medical histories. Children and young people are also at higher risk, particularly those who start gambling as teenagers or younger.
Problem gamblers can be found in all economic groups, from the very wealthy to those with very little income. However, the most at-risk are those who start gambling at a young age, especially if they are male. People who have a personality type that makes them vulnerable to addictive behavior are also at higher risk, as are those who are prone to anxiety and depression.
There is a growing consensus that addiction to gambling has strong similarities to other substance use disorders. The concept of behavioral disinhibition is central to this understanding, although there are differences in how this idea is framed by researchers, psychiatrists and other treatment care clinicians, and by the public at large. For example, some have emphasized that the desire to gamble can be a response to unpleasant emotional states such as loneliness or boredom, and that it is a way to socialize with others in an entertaining and exciting way.
The impulsiveness that is central to the emergence of addiction to gambling has also been linked to various mental health problems, such as depression, stress, and mood swings. These conditions can trigger and worsen gambling problems, as well as making recovery from them more difficult. The link between these conditions and gambling has been strengthened by research indicating that some symptoms of mental illness, such as delusions or hallucinations, are more common among people with a history of compulsive gambling.
There is also a consensus that a person’s ability to control their gambling activities is an important factor in predicting whether they will develop a problem. This is reflected in the change, which was made at various times between 1980 and 1994, in how “problem gambling” has been described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association (DSM). For example, the diagnosis now includes the statement: “repeated unsuccessful attempts to control, cut back, or stop gambling.” The wording was changed because clinical research has shown that the symptom of “loss of control” is highly correlated with other diagnostic criteria. It is important to note, though, that the addition of this criterion has not led to a significant change in the number of people diagnosed with problem gambling. It is still a relatively rare condition.
