Gambling involves wagering something of value on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value. While most people gamble without problems, some become seriously involved and their actions have adverse personal, family, work, and financial consequences. People may also experience emotional distress as a result of gambling. The term “gambling” refers to both legal and illegal activities involving chance. Examples of gambling include lotteries, games of skill such as keno and bingo, and video poker and other casino-style games. In the United States, legal gambling includes horse racing, casinos, and a variety of online and mobile gaming sites.
Compulsive gambling affects people of all ages, genders, social classes and levels of education. However, people who start gambling at a young age are at greater risk of developing problems. People who have a close relative with a gambling addiction are also more likely to develop problems. A person’s environment and medical history may also increase his or her risk for developing gambling problems.
In recent years, the understanding of gambling has undergone a major shift. Instead of being considered an irrational and immoral behavior, the disorder has been classified as a mental health issue. This change in perception has been reflected in the changes in the terminology and description of pathological gambling in each edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association (DSM).
Many people are attracted to the excitement and glamour of the gambling industry, and the opportunity to win money or other prizes. They may also be attracted to the mood-altering effects of gambling, which are largely tied to the brain’s reward system. Some people gamble as a way to relieve boredom or loneliness, or to self-soothe unpleasant feelings. Other reasons for gambling include the desire to socialize with friends, or the thrill of winning.
There are a number of ways that someone can get help for a gambling problem. One option is to attend support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous, which follows a similar structure to Alcoholics Anonymous and offers peer support for those with gambling addictions. Another option is to seek professional counseling, which can help address specific issues that cause a person to gamble excessively, such as family or marital problems, credit difficulties, and work stressors.
In addition to individual and group therapy, inpatient or residential treatment programs are available for those with serious gambling addictions who are unable to stop gambling without round-the-clock support. These programs often provide family, marriage, and career therapy as well as cognitive-behavioral and other forms of addiction treatment. They may also offer financial counseling, which can help a person rebuild his or her finances after gambling addiction has led to debt and credit problems. The main goal of these programs is to teach a person new, healthier coping skills that will allow him or her to avoid gambling. In many cases, these programs are provided free of charge or at a very low cost.