Gambling is the wagering of something of value on an event that involves risk and has a prize. The event is random in nature and can involve anything from winning a jackpot on a slot machine to predicting the outcome of a sports game. The act of gambling is typically accompanied by the anticipation of winning and losing. While many people who gamble do so responsibly, a small percentage of individuals develop problems with their gambling behavior. These problems can have serious, even devastating, consequences for themselves and others.
The perception of pathological gambling as a behavioral disorder has undergone a dramatic change in recent years. The changes were reflected in, and stimulated by, the evolving clinical criteria for pathological gambling in the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
As part of this evolution in understanding, it is now widely accepted that the etiology of pathological gambling may involve many of the same processes as other addictions, especially substance abuse. However, the DSM nomenclature does not explicitly recognize this relationship by using the term “addiction,” and it focuses primarily on defining a range of symptoms that are associated with gambling disorder.
Although the risk of developing a problem with gambling is relatively low for most adults, 2.5 million U.S. adults (1%) meet the diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling. In addition, 5-8 million Americans (2-3%) would be considered to have mild or moderate gambling problems. Research suggests that gambling problems can affect people from all walks of life, regardless of economic status, age, race, gender, or education.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of a gambling problem include: an inability to control the amount of money being gambled, repeated attempts to stop gambling, preoccupation with gambling or obtaining money to gamble, irrational thinking about gambling, and continuance of the behavior despite adverse consequences. The onset of pathological gambling can be triggered by several factors, including family history, peer pressure, and stressful life events.
Another factor that increases a person’s chance of becoming addicted to gambling is the type of game they play. For example, those who bet on horse races or sports have a higher risk of becoming addicted than those who play games like poker or blackjack. People who begin gambling at a young age are also at increased risk of developing a problem.
Some theorists have also suggested that the reinforcement received from gambling may be particularly strong for those in the 18-29 age group because of their developing brains. In fact, some researchers have even suggested that gambling companies intentionally target this age group in order to increase profits. The most important thing to remember when gambling is to have fun, but always be responsible. If you are having trouble controlling your gambling, there are services available to help. These services offer support, assistance and counselling to help you deal with your gambling addiction. Some services also offer support to affected families and friends.