Gambling is an activity involving risk and chance where a prize is won by wagering something of value on a random event. The term ‘gambling’ includes betting on events such as horse races, sports games and casino games but also involves activities like lotteries, scratch cards and DIY investing. The act of gambling is associated with many psychological, social and financial problems including addiction.
While most individuals participate in gambling as an enjoyable social activity, a small group of people develop serious problems. They continue to gamble despite adverse personal, family, occupational and financial consequences. This behavior is often characterized by a progression towards pathological gambling and, in some cases, it is accompanied by the development of other mental health disorders such as depression or a personality disorder.
People with problem gambling are often reluctant to seek help for their gambling. This is because they may believe that their problem is not serious or that it will resolve on its own, as with other addictions. Furthermore, they may not recognise the negative impact of their gambling on themselves and their loved ones.
Some research has indicated that a person’s risk of developing a gambling problem is related to their genetics and personality traits such as thrill-seeking behaviour and impulsivity. In addition, people in their twenties or thirties are more likely to develop gambling problems than older people. It is thought that this is because their brains are not fully mature and therefore they may be more prone to reckless behaviour.
In order to assess whether a person is suffering from a gambling disorder, a psychiatrist will consider a number of factors including the frequency and intensity of the individual’s gambling activities, the effect it is having on their life (personal, family, work) and the nature of their financial losses. In addition, the psychiatrist will take into account whether or not the person is concealing their gambling activities or lying about them to friends and family members.
The understanding of gambling and gambling problems has undergone a significant change over the past few decades. Previously, those who experienced problems with their gambling were regarded as ‘gamblers with character flaws’, but the current view is that the cause of these problems is psychological rather than morally corrupt. Several models or theories have been put forward to explain this shift, including a general theory of addictions, the reward deficiency syndrome and behavioral-environmental reasons. These models are important because they can influence intervention and research strategies, public opinion and policy decisions, as well as the self-perceptions of those affected by these problems. The model that has received the greatest empirical support is that of behavioral-environmental reasons.