Gambling involves wagering something of value on a random event, usually money or property. In some games, the items being staked are collected and accumulated over time; this is often called “staked goods” or “staked capital.” The object of gambling is to increase the value of these objects, which may be done by a number of methods, including winning additional amounts of money.
While most adults and adolescents have gambled, a small portion of these people develop serious problems with this activity. These individuals are known as problem gamblers. Problem gambling has a high risk of causing serious consequences, such as family distress and financial loss. It is also associated with other mental health disorders, such as substance use disorder and a significant increased suicide risk.
Many individuals who experience adverse effects from gambling are unaware that they have a gambling problem. This is partly because the understanding of gambling disorder has undergone considerable change since its inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (also called DSM) in 1980.
In recent years, the understanding of gambling disorder has shifted to include a cluster or dimension of symptoms rather than the traditional diagnosis of pathological gambling as a single, monolithic psychiatric disorder. These new criteria include damage or disruption, loss of control, and dependence.
Increasing the availability of gambling activities and increasing the ease of access to these activities has changed the way that people think about the risks and benefits of this behavior. In addition, it has led to changes in how problems are described and treated.
For example, it is common for gambling to be compared with other societal leisure activities such as burglary, robbery, drug peddling, prostitution, etc. This is because societal idlers tend to gravitate towards these types of activities for a variety of reasons, such as the opportunity to make money or avoid criminal prosecution.
The social costs of gambling are difficult to quantify, particularly those related to family distress and loss of productivity. A growing number of studies are attempting to do so using economic impact analysis, which is a method that uses benefit-cost analysis to weigh the costs and benefits of a particular policy. These analyses have a variety of limitations, however, and should be used with caution when estimating the net social costs associated with gambling (Grinols 1995).
The first step in overcoming a gambling addiction is realizing that you have one. This can be a very difficult realization, especially for those who have lost large sums of money and strained or broken relationships in the process. Fortunately, help is available. BetterHelp offers a free online assessment that matches you with a professional therapist who can provide the relationship, career, and financial counseling that you need to recover from your gambling addiction. You can begin recovery today. Visit our website for more information.