Gambling is a popular pastime in most countries, and is a major economic contributor to some economies. However, it is a behaviour with significant costs to gamblers and their families as well as society, which have been well documented. In addition to monetary impacts, gambling can also have negative psychological effects. In particular, a number of cognitive distortions are associated with gambling, including an overestimation of one’s chances of winning and a lack of awareness that losing is more likely than winning. These distortions can be exacerbated by boredom susceptibility, impulsivity and the use of escape coping, and can contribute to the development of gambling disorders.
Problem gambling is a mental health issue that can affect anyone, regardless of age, race, social class or gender. It is a disorder that affects your ability to regulate your emotions and make decisions, resulting in serious consequences for you and those close to you. While many people who gamble do not have a problem, a small number of people develop a gambling disorder and continue to gamble despite negative personal, family, work and financial consequences. This makes them unable to control their spending or stop gambling despite trying.
There are a number of factors that can cause someone to develop a gambling problem, including poor money management skills, a history of mental health problems, family and cultural influences, and an underlying addictive personality. It is therefore important to recognise the signs of a gambling problem and seek help for this condition. Various services offer support, assistance and counselling to people who are affected by gambling, as well as family and friends. These organisations can provide a variety of services, from helping you to control your spending to offering counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to explore and change your beliefs about gambling.
Although gambling is not a lucrative way to make money, it is not uncommon for people to become addicted to the thrill of risk taking and the desire to win. Often, this leads to an increase in debt and even bankruptcy. In some cases, it can lead to substance abuse and addiction. It is important to recognise the signs of gambling addiction, and if you are concerned that you may be suffering from this condition, talk to your doctor for help.
The articles were identified by searching the Medline database (1966 to present) using MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) and textwords “gambling”, “problem gambling” and “pathological gambling”. Eligible studies were those that: were published in peer-reviewed journals; involved humans; discussed the impact of gambling on the health of gamblers, and/or reported screening strategies for pathological gambling. Studies that were not included in the final review are available from the authors upon request.