Gambling is an activity in which people place items of value at risk in the hope of gaining something of greater value. It may be an occasional pastime, an entertaining social event or a serious addiction. Gambling has many negative impacts, including conflicts in relationships, financial strain and feelings of anger, fear or shame. Some people are at a higher risk for developing gambling problems than others, including adolescents, veterans, the aging population and members of the Latino or Asian communities.
While most adults and adolescents have placed some kind of bet, only a small percentage of them develop problematic gambling. Problematic gambling is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a recurrent pattern of behavior characterized by a preoccupation with, or involvement in, games of chance.
Most people who gamble do so recreationally, with a small portion of their disposable income. But it can become a serious problem for some individuals, leading to loss of employment, family disruption and even legal disputes and arrest. Problem gambling is also associated with depression and suicidal thoughts.
Studies have shown that the act of gambling is physically and psychologically addictive. The brain releases dopamine, the feel-good neurotransmitter, when you place a bet or win money. The rush of dopamine is similar to that produced by a drug like cocaine. It is why some people are unable to stop gambling once they get started.
Taking steps to prevent or treat gambling problems can help you restore your life. To begin, you should learn about the warning signs that your gambling has crossed the line from a harmless hobby to an addiction. You should also find healthier ways to relieve unpleasant emotions or boredom. These could include exercising, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, learning new hobbies or practicing relaxation techniques.
It is important to recognize when gambling has gone too far, because if left untreated, the risks of problem gambling can be disastrous. If you think that your gambling is causing problems for you or someone you care about, seek professional help immediately.
Most studies of gambling have focused on the economic benefits and costs, which are relatively easy to quantify. But it is important to consider the social and health impacts of gambling as well, which can be harder to measure. According to Williams et al., social impacts of gambling are those that aggregate societal real wealth and cause harm to society as a whole or benefit no one at all. This definition of a social impact is quite different from that used by Walker and Barnett, who define it as an economic cost or benefit that aggregates to societal real wealth and benefits no one at all.