Gambling is the act of risking something of value for a chance to win more money or a prize. It can take place in many places, such as casinos, racetracks, church halls and sporting events, but also on the Internet and even in your own home. Whether it’s playing a video game or purchasing a lottery ticket, gambling is always a risk and can lead to serious problems.
The premise behind gambling is that the chances of winning are greater than the odds of losing. In addition, gamblers are rewarded for their actions with large surges of dopamine, which is a chemical in the brain that rewards pleasurable activities and motivates people to seek out more rewards. Over time, these surges can change a person’s brain chemistry and cause them to become addicted to gambling.
Some people gamble for fun, while others do it to alleviate stress and depression or as a way to socialize with friends. The fact that gambling triggers feelings of euphoria makes it easy for people to get hooked, but it’s important to remember that all forms of gambling are inherently risky and can lead to addiction. Those with mental health conditions are particularly at risk for harmful gambling, as they may be more prone to pursuing pleasures that can have negative consequences, such as seeking rewards from gambling or lying to loved ones about their behavior.
Research on gambling is best conducted using longitudinal data, which allows researchers to follow the same group of people over a long period of time and identify factors that influence their behavior. However, it’s not always possible to do longitudinal studies, because there are practical and logistical barriers, such as the massive funding required for a multiyear commitment and issues with maintaining research team continuity and sample attrition. In addition, a longitudinal design can confound aging and period effects (e.g., is a person’s increased gambling activity due to age or because a new casino opened nearby?).
Fortunately, there are many ways to help people who are struggling with gambling. One of the most important is to set money and time limits before starting to gamble. It’s also important to only gamble with money you can afford to lose and not with money you need for bills or rent. In addition, it’s helpful to learn how to handle stress and address any other underlying mental health issues that may be contributing to the problem.
There are no medications available that treat gambling disorder, but psychotherapy can be effective. Psychotherapy is a term for a variety of treatment techniques that aim to help a person identify and change unhealthy emotions, thoughts and behaviors. It can be done individually or in groups and takes place with a trained mental health professional, such as a psychologist or clinical social worker. In some cases, psychotherapy is combined with medication. In other cases, psychotherapy is used alone. For more information about the different types of psychotherapy, see our article on gambling therapy options.