Gambling is a common and popular activity worldwide that involves placing a wager on an event with an uncertain outcome. It can involve a variety of activities, such as sports betting, horse racing, lotteries, casino games, and even online gambling. The vast majority of people who gamble do so responsibly and without any adverse consequences. However, a small subset of individuals who gamble develop gambling disorder, an addiction characterized by significant distress or impairment.
People of all ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds engage in gambling. The amount of money legally wagered each year is estimated to be $10 trillion (though illegal wagering likely exceeds this figure). While the most commonly recognized form of gambling is the lottery, sports betting and other forms of regulated gambling also are popular. Young people, especially men, are particularly susceptible to developing a gambling disorder; up to 5% of adolescents and young adults who engage in gambling develop a disorder.
Throughout history, gambling has had a wide range of social, economic, and cultural implications. It has been associated with crime, corruption, and both positive and negative social, political, and economic effects. In addition, it has been a source of many myths and legends.
Understanding of the adverse consequences of excessive gambling has undergone a significant change in recent decades. Historically, people who had problems with gambling were considered to have a gambling disorder, but today they are more often understood to have a psychological problem. This shift has been reflected in, and perhaps stimulated by, the changes made to the diagnosis of pathological gambling in various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association.
A person who has a gambling disorder is often unable to control their urges to gamble, even when they realize that their behavior is damaging their life and the lives of those around them. They may lie to family members, therapists, or others to conceal the extent of their gambling involvement. In addition, they often experience negative emotional and behavioral consequences as a result of their gambling, including feeling helpless or powerless (known as “feeling stuck”), lying to others, and committing illegal acts, such as forgery, fraud, theft, and embezzlement, in order to fund their gambling activities.
Getting help for a gambling disorder is essential for someone who wants to break free from the cycle of compulsive gambling and regain control of their life. Developing a strong support network and finding healthier ways to relieve boredom, stress, or unpleasant emotions can help individuals battle their addictive behaviors. These strategies can include exercise, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, taking up new hobbies, and joining a peer support group, such as Gamblers Anonymous, which is based on the 12-step recovery model of Alcoholics Anonymous. In addition, many states have a national gambling helpline and other resources available.