Gambling is when you risk something of value – money, assets or other things of worth – to predict the outcome of a game that involves chance. It can be done legally in some places, and illegally in others. People gamble by playing games, betting on sports events or horse races, buying lottery tickets or using online gambling sites. If they win, they get the prize money; if they lose, they have to pay back their stake. Gambling is often associated with negative impacts such as financial stress, relationship breakdown, family violence, mental illness and suicide. These can have long term effects that change the life course of an individual and can even be passed down between generations.
Gambling can also have positive aspects, including entertainment, social interaction and escape from boredom or stress. It is important to recognize these benefits and use them to counteract the negatives. Changing how you think about gambling can help you stay away from it, or at least keep its use to a minimum.
Research has found that a person’s ability to gamble can be affected by their genetics, environment and experiences. These factors can influence whether a person is able to control their gambling and whether they experience any problems. Those with a strong family history of problem gambling are more likely to develop a problem themselves. People who have poor emotional regulation and low self-control are also more likely to experience gambling problems. In addition, those who have a mood disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder are more at risk of developing a gambling addiction.
While many people do not have a gambling addiction, some can become addicted to it. This may be due to a combination of factors, such as an early big win, the size of the win, boredom susceptibility, impulsivity, a poor understanding of random events and the use of escape coping. Problem gambling can lead to financial harm and psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, substance misuse and a higher risk of suicide.
Some people turn to gambling because they believe it is fun, exciting and glamorous. They can be exposed to this view through advertising and media. However, the truth is that gambling is not always as fun, exciting or glamorous as it is portrayed in advertisements.
The impact of gambling can be observed at the personal, interpersonal and community/society levels (Fig 1). External impacts affect those outside of the gambler themselves; they can include effects such as the increased debt and financial strain on family members, the effect of escalating into bankruptcy or homelessness on communities and society, and the redirected consumption expenditure from other businesses.
Prevention is the best way to reduce gambling-related harm. Tools to prevent gambling include universal pre-commitment systems (requiring people to set binding limits on their time and money spent on gambling) and self-exclusion from gambling providers. These should be made available to everyone, and are more effective than voluntary schemes.