Gambling involves placing a wager on something with an uncertain outcome. In most Western societies, gambling is considered a harmless or low-risk social activity for people of all ages. People are able to gamble in casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and other cities, as well as play video games, participate in lottery draws and place sports bets at online sportsbooks. Many children are even allowed to play these types of games with their parents.
While many people gamble without problems, some become unable to control their gambling behavior. This is called compulsive gambling or pathological gambling and can result in serious financial distress.
Problem gambling can be difficult to recognize because it is often hidden from family and friends. Some gamblers even lie about how much they are spending or even the amount of time they are gambling.
Despite the prevalence of gambling, there are no definitive diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling. Nevertheless, psychologists have developed a list of warning signs that may indicate the presence of this disorder. These include:
In addition, the DSM-5 (the American Psychiatric Association’s manual for diagnosing mental health disorders) lists 10 warning signs of compulsive gambling. These are based on research into how people who have this disorder experience their gambling behavior. These include:
The most common symptoms of a gambling problem are loss of control and compulsion to gamble. People with this condition often feel a strong urge to gamble, even when they have lost money. They also tend to make repeated attempts to stop gambling or limit their gambling activities, but they fail. They might also try to regain the lost money by taking more risks or by lying to their families and friends.
People with this disorder are at risk of developing other mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. They are also more likely to commit crimes, such as stealing or forgery.
There are several things you can do to help prevent a gambling problem from getting out of hand, such as strengthening your support network and finding healthier ways to relieve boredom or unpleasant feelings. For example, you could try exercising, spending time with friends who don’t gamble or taking up a new hobby.
Ultimately, the best way to avoid gambling problems is to never start gambling in the first place. If you do, be sure to only use money that belongs to your entertainment budget and don’t take out loans or credit to gamble. Also, remember that gambling is not a source of income, so don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. Finally, if you ever have thoughts like “I’m due for a big win,” it is best to just walk away. This is known as the gambler’s fallacy and is a surefire way to lose more money. If you have a gambling problem, seek professional help as soon as possible. There are several treatment programs available, including the 12-step Recovery Program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous and the McCreary Centre Society’s Gamblers Anonymous.