Gambling is an activity where people place bets on random events, with the intention of winning something of value. This can include games such as poker, blackjack and roulette, betting on sports such as horse racing, football accumulators and elections, lottery tickets and scratchcards, as well as speculating on business or insurance investments. Although many people gamble socially for fun, others develop a gambling addiction that can cause significant harm to their lives, finances and relationships. People with problem gambling often hide their activities and lie about how much they spend, hoping that family, friends or work colleagues won’t notice. They may even start to avoid events that could lead to gambling, or they might try to win back their losses by increasing their bets.
It is thought that people with problem gambling use the activity to profit and escape from life, just like any other addictive behavior. They may feel compelled to continue gambling, even when the costs begin to exceed the benefits. This is because the brain’s reward pathway can be hijacked by problem gambling, causing a person to experience a temporary relief from stress that eventually contributes to more stress. In addition, the behavior changes how the brain processes dopamine. Normally, when people experience a positive event, such as shooting a basketball into a net, they get a dopamine reward that helps them learn how to repeat the skillful action. In the case of gambling, however, the brain experiences a similar response when winning or losing, and the learning is repeated over and over again.
There are a number of risk factors for developing a gambling disorder, including past problems with drugs or alcohol, family history of gambling, trauma and stressors in early life, as well as mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. The condition can start in adolescence or later, and is more common among men than women.
The DSM-5 psychiatric manual classifies pathological gambling as a behavioral addiction, placing it in a category that is closely related to substance-related disorders. This move reflects the growing evidence that problem gambling is a behavioral addiction, similar to substance abuse in clinical expression, brain origins and comorbidity.
Recognizing a gambling addiction is the first step to recovering from it. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, there are a variety of treatment options available. You can try to stop on your own, or you can reach out for help from a counselor or therapist. BetterHelp is an online service that matches you with a licensed therapist who can help with problem gambling and other mental health issues. Take our free assessment to get matched with a therapist today. We can also help you find support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous, that can offer peer-to-peer recovery.