Gambling and Its Adverse Consequences
Gambling is betting or staking something of value, with consciousness of risk and hope of gain, on an event that may be determined by chance, luck, skill, or accident. It is an international commercial activity with an estimated legal turnover of $10 trillion a year (though illegal gambling may exceed this amount). Gambling can be conducted with money, but it also can be done with other materials that have monetary value such as marbles, or with collectible items such as Magic: The Gathering cards or Pogs games.
The understanding of gambling and its adverse consequences has undergone profound change in recent decades, as has the terminology used to describe these issues. In the past, individuals who gambled to the point of causing adverse consequences were often viewed as having gambling problems; today, we are more likely to see them as having psychological problems. This change has been reflected in, or stimulated by, the changing clinical classification of pathological gambling within the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association (DSM).
Individuals who meet DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling may exhibit several characteristic features. These include a preoccupation with gambling; repeated, unsuccessful efforts to control the behavior; escalating wager sizes in an attempt to maintain excitement levels; attempting to regain losses through continued gambling; lying to others to conceal the extent of one’s betting activities; relying on illegal acts to finance gambling or to escape problems or depressed moods; engaging in risky behaviors in order to fund gambling; and jeopardizing personal relationships and employment opportunities in order to sustain a gambling habit. Typically, people who develop a PG diagnosis start gambling during adolescence or young adulthood and begin experiencing symptoms of a problem in their early adult years.
Whether it is a lottery ticket, a bet on the horse races or a game of pokies, most people gamble at some time in their lives. Some gambling activities, such as betting on football matches or the Superbowl, are organized by professional sports organizations and can involve large amounts of money.
Gambling can cause serious harm if not managed properly, and many people have had to face the difficult decision of whether to stop or get help for their addiction. Although it takes tremendous courage to admit that you have a problem, many people who struggle with gambling have found recovery and rebuilt their lives. There are a number of effective treatments for gambling addiction, including group therapy and family counseling. You can also find online support groups for those who are trying to overcome their gambling addiction. It is important to remember that recovery takes time and it is not uncommon for people to relapse from time to time. This is no reason to give up, however, and there are many people who can provide encouragement and support. Those who are struggling with a gambling addiction should seek help as soon as possible.
Gambling is betting or staking something of value, with consciousness of risk and hope of gain, on an event that may be determined by chance, luck, skill, or accident. It is an international commercial activity with an estimated legal turnover of $10 trillion a year (though illegal gambling may exceed this amount). Gambling can be…