Gambling is the betting or staking of something of value (as money, goods or services) with consciousness of risk and hope of gain. It can be as simple as buying a lottery ticket, or as complex as fantasy leagues and online poker. In all cases, gambling has two things in common: it involves taking a risk and it can lead to addiction. Problem gambling can occur at any age, but young people are particularly vulnerable. They may be attracted by social media and video games that require micro-transactions and payments, or they might feel isolated or bored. Men appear to be more attracted to gambling than women, and they are also more likely to develop a problem than older people.
Gambling can be a fun and exciting pastime, but it can also become addictive and result in serious problems for the person involved. Whether the cause is a chemical imbalance, or a lack of personal and family support, gambling can take over people’s lives. Fortunately, help is available for those who have a gambling problem.
The first step in treating gambling-related problems is to recognise that there is a problem. A number of different tests are available to assess for pathological gambling, including the Survey of American Gambling Attitudes and Behavior by Kallick, Suits & Dielman (1979), the IGWG’s Self-Report Screening Test (DRST) developed in 1975, and a range of DSM-IV or subsequent definition-based measures.
However, it is important to remember that the vast majority of people who gamble do not meet criteria for pathological gambling, despite having significant gambling problems. In many cases, this is because gambling has become normalized through commercialization, sponsorship and aggressive marketing. This is especially true in areas of disadvantage where opportunities to gamble are disproportionately located.
Harmful gambling can cause financial loss, relationship breakdown and mental illness. It can also contribute to criminal activity such as trafficking, bribery and money laundering. In addition, it can cause health problems and diversion of household spending away from necessary goods and services. It can also lead to poverty and undermine progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
While the occurrence of harms from gambling is relatively low, the market is growing rapidly. This is partly driven by globalization of gambling products, increasing accessibility to high-intensity gambling products and the proliferation of smartphone use.
To reduce harmful gambling, governments need to promote prevention strategies and provide effective treatment and support for those who seek it. These include universal pre-commitment systems (requiring people to set binding limits on time and money spent gambling) and self-exclusion. Research has shown that these are more effective than voluntary or community-based approaches. These approaches must be integrated into national and local policies. They should also be accompanied by a strong message that gambling is not harmless and that harms are avoidable.