What Is Gambling?
Gambling is the wagering of money or other items of value on an event whose outcome is determined by chance, where instances of skill are discounted. While most people engage in gambling for entertainment and social interaction, a small number of individuals become heavily involved in the activity to the point of serious personal, professional, family, and financial problems.
While the activities that comprise gambling are diverse, there are several common features among gamblers that suggest an underlying cause of their behavior: a tendency toward sensation- and novelty-seeking, a lack of inhibition, arousal and negative emotionality. In addition, there is a strong correlation between gambling and impulse control disorders, such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder.
Some examples of gambling include betting on horse races and sporting events, playing card games like poker, blackjack, or bridge with friends in a private setting, and placing bets with neighbors and coworkers on work-related issues. In addition to the use of money, a person may also wager objects of lesser value, such as marbles or collectible gaming pieces, in games of chance or strategy.
The most well-known form of gambling is the practice of predicting the results of a random event, such as a lottery drawing or the outcome of a game of chance, in order to win money or other goods and services. The act of gambling is often accompanied by the anticipation phase, in which a person waits to see whether they will win or lose. This period is characterized by subjective excitement and physiological arousal, which can peak in the moment immediately prior to the announcement of the winning numbers or result of a bet.
Many individuals engage in gambling to earn a living, and some individuals even make a career of it. Career gamblers tend to be affluent and can often afford to support themselves in other ways as well, such as investment banking or real estate. Despite this, there are many negative aspects to gambling, including a high risk of addiction and the associated social, psychological, and financial consequences.
Several studies indicate that pathological gambling (PG) shares some features with substance dependence, and the American Psychiatric Association has suggested that PG should be classified as an addiction in the future. However, the evidence supporting this conclusion is sparse and limited to persons in treatment, and there are many features of PG that do not match those of SUDs. For example, a person who is a compulsive gambler may lie to their family members, friends, or therapist about the extent of their involvement with gambling, and they may continue to gamble when they are feeling distressed (e.g., helpless, guilty, anxious, or depressed).
If you are concerned that you may have a gambling problem, or you know someone who has one, learn more about the problem and how to get help. You can also find out more about the effective treatments available for gambling addiction.
