Gambling is the wagering of something of value, such as money or a product, on an event with an uncertain outcome. It includes activities in which skill can reduce the chances of winning but are still largely dependent on chance. Despite its widespread social acceptance, gambling can have serious adverse consequences for people and their families. It can damage physical and mental health, relationships, performance at work or study, lead to debt and even homelessness.
Gamblers can be driven by many different motives. Some may want to win the jackpot and become rich and famous, while others seek an emotional rush, socializing with friends or a break from boredom. A report published in International Gambling Studies found that the most common motives for gambling include mood change, excitement and dreaming of a big win. Other factors that can influence a person’s risk taking behaviour include an underactive brain reward system, boredom susceptibility, impulsivity and the use of escape coping.
The way people understand gambling has changed dramatically over the past few decades. It has moved from a recreational activity with some risk to a mental disorder that needs to be treated like any other addiction. This shift has been stimulated by a number of factors, including advances in cognitive behavioral therapy and the inclusion of pathological gambling in various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association.
It has also been influenced by new understandings of human development, neuroscience and evolutionary biology. These have challenged traditional views about the cause of gambling problems and opened up the possibility of novel treatment approaches.
People with gambling problems are often unable to recognize their behavior as problematic, and they have trouble seeking help. They may have cultural values that discourage them from acknowledging their problem, or may find it difficult to trust professionals who specialize in gambling addiction. In addition, some groups of people may find it harder to acknowledge a gambling problem than others, depending on their culture and the prevalence of the activity in their area.
Research on gambling is conducted by a variety of scientists, psychiatrists and other treatment care clinicians, as well as public policy makers. However, they all frame questions about gambling in different ways, based on their discipline and world view. These varying perspectives can contribute to the confusion over what constitutes gambling and the validity of research findings. They can also influence how a particular question is approached and what conclusions are drawn from it. For example, some observers may assume that all forms of gambling are equally dangerous, while others might focus on differences in risk-taking, gambling frequency and motivation. They might also focus on the differences between skill-based gambling and games of pure chance. While these distinctions can be helpful, they cannot completely account for the variation in underlying pathological features. This is why it is important to look at the entire range of possible pathways that lead to gambling problems, from no gambling to pathological gambling.