What Is Gambling?
Gambling is any activity where a person stakes something of value, such as money or other items of perceived worth, on an event that is at least partly determined by chance. The hope is to win something of value in return. This includes games such as bingo, buying lottery or scratch tickets, and betting on sporting events. In some countries, gambling is legal and regulated while in others it is illegal.
The concept of gambling has existed for thousands of years. The earliest known evidence is a set of tiles that were found in ancient China and are believed to have been used for a rudimentary form of gambling. In the modern sense of the word, a gamble involves placing a bet on an outcome that could be either winning or losing, such as a horse race, a basketball game, or a football match. In most cases, the outcome is decided by the roll of a die or the flip of a coin.
A person can become addicted to gambling even if the activity is legal and regulated. However, the occurrence of addiction to gambling can be prevented if the person is aware that they have a problem and seeks help before it gets out of control. The most common symptoms of compulsive gambling include:
The urge to gamble can be a powerful one and, for some, it is hard to resist. This is why it is important to identify the symptoms early and to be prepared to take steps if you think you have a problem. In addition to professional help, there are self-help resources available that can offer advice and support.
Research on gambling is often conducted using longitudinal designs, allowing researchers to track an individual’s involvement in the activity over time. This allows them to better understand the factors that influence, moderate, and exacerbate an individual’s gambling behavior. The long-term nature of these studies also helps to provide a more accurate picture of the impact of gambling on individuals, families, and communities.
In the past, pathological gambling was considered a compulsion rather than an addiction, and was included in a section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders called Impulse Control Disorders (Petry, Bowden-Jones, & George, 2013). This change to the new edition of the DSM, which was published this year, was made to increase recognition of the condition, promote awareness and screening for those at risk, and encourage more research into effective treatment options.
Dealing with a loved one’s gambling problem can be stressful, and it is often easy to rationalize their requests for “just this one last time.” It is important to have boundaries in place in terms of managing money, such as having someone else in charge of finances, closing online betting accounts, and keeping only a small amount of cash on hand. Additionally, it is important to reach out for family and community support if you need help. This will remind you that you are not alone and that other families have experienced this type of situation.
