Gambling Addiction
Gambling is the betting or staking of something of value (like money or property) with consciousness of risk and hope of gain, on an event whose outcome is determined by chance. It is a common activity that involves many forms of media, including sports, casino games, online gambling, lottery, scratchcards and fantasy leagues.
People with an addiction to gambling can experience serious problems, such as losing control of their finances, becoming socially isolated, experiencing depression and having difficulty with work or study. Problem gambling can also affect relationships with family and friends and leave people in debt and even homeless. It can also cause health problems, such as heart disease and stress.
The most common type of gambling is betting on a team or individual to win a sporting event, but it can also include other activities such as buying and selling shares, laying races or playing bingo. It is also possible to gamble with materials that don’t have monetary value, such as marbles or collectable trading cards in board game such as Pogs and Magic: The Gathering.
Almost half of the UK population takes part in gambling and most of this is done online. But for many people this can become dangerous, causing harm to their physical and mental health, relationships, performance at work or school, or getting them into trouble with the law. It can even result in suicide.
There are many different ways to help a person with gambling addiction, from self-help through to peer support groups, residential or inpatient treatment programs and family therapy. It is important to seek out help for underlying mood disorders, such as depression or anxiety, as these can trigger or make gambling problems worse. It is also important to strengthen relationships and find new social activities that don’t involve gambling, such as joining a book club, taking an education class or volunteering for a worthy cause.
While it is possible to recover from gambling addiction, relapses are not uncommon, especially as the internet makes it easy for people to access casinos and online gaming sites at any time of the day or night. The key to recovery is staying strong and making a firm commitment to stop gambling. This can be difficult, particularly as it can be very tempting to pick up a slot machine or place a bet with a friend.
Some people are more at risk of developing a gambling disorder, including those with low incomes who have more to lose and those with antisocial or impulsive personality traits. It is also more likely to happen in young people or men and research suggests that up to 5% of adolescents and 5% of adults develop gambling disorders. In addition to self-help and professional treatment, families of someone with a gambling addiction can also help by setting boundaries in managing money, taking control of household finances and reviewing bank and credit card statements. They can also look at local referral resources for certified gambling counselors and intensive treatment programs in their area.