Gambling is the risking of something of value (usually money) on an event involving chance, with the objective of winning a prize. This can be done in many ways, including betting on sporting events, horse races, dice games, slot machines, cards, instant scratchcards and other games of chance. People gamble for a variety of reasons, from social to financial. But, in the hands of compulsive gamblers, it can become a very dangerous habit that can ruin lives and leave families and friends in serious debt and even homelessness.
It is estimated that over half of the UK population gambles at some point in their lives. For most, this is a fun and enjoyable pastime. However, for some, gambling becomes a problem that causes harm to their physical and mental health, their relationships with family and friends, their performance at work and studies and can put them in serious financial trouble – possibly leading to homelessness or even suicide. It can also lead to addiction and be a source of conflict within families, friendships, workplaces and communities.
Traditionally, the research field has ignored the issue of gambling as a problem and has focused on economic costs and benefits. However, the use of this approach presents a biased view of the situation because it does not consider the many other external impacts that gambling has on individuals and society as a whole. These can be grouped into three classes: financial, labor and health and well-being. Financial impacts can be seen at the individual, interpersonal and community/societal levels and include changes in wealth, expenditures on gambling, interest, and income. Labor impacts include changes in employment and the effects of gambling on work-related stress, absenteeism, job loss and poor performance. Health and well-being impacts are the most hidden but potentially the most severe.
There are four main reasons why people gamble: for fun, to win money, to get a rush or for coping purposes. These reasons don’t absolve the person gambling of responsibility but can help you understand why they might find it difficult to stop.
Over time, a consensus has formed regarding what constitutes problematic gambling behaviour. The American Psychiatric Association’s official guide to mental disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, listed 10 warning signs of compulsive gambling. However, the latest edition of this book, the DSM-5, has reclassified pathological gambling as an impulse-control disorder, alongside other conditions such as kleptomania and pyromania. This is based on the research findings that show impulsive behaviours such as gambling are far more similar to other types of addiction than previously thought. This is because of the way gambling affects the reward centres of the brain. This can lead to a vicious cycle of gambling, winning and losing. In addition, the effects can linger long after the gambler has stopped gambling. This is known as the relapse rate and is a major concern for people who have problems with gambling. Fortunately, there are treatment options that can help people to break this cycle.
