Gambling involves risking something of value (money or personal belongings) on an event where the outcome is determined at least in part by chance. There are several different ways that people gamble, but they all involve placing a bet or wager with the hope of winning something of greater value than the original investment. Some common forms of gambling include playing card games such as poker, blackjack and spades, putting money on the results of sporting events like football matches or horse races, playing lottery games and using scratch cards.
Many people participate in gambling for social, entertainment or financial reasons and do not develop a problem. However, a small number of people become heavily involved in gambling and continue to gamble despite negative social, family and financial consequences. This is known as compulsive gambling or problem gambling.
People who become addicted to gambling may find it hard to recognise that their behaviour is a problem, even when it causes them significant distress or impairment. They may be secretive about their gambling, hiding it from friends and family or lying about how much they spend on it. They may also attempt to conceal the extent of their gambling activities by destroying or hiding evidence of their gambling activity.
While most individuals who participate in gambling do not become ill as a result of their involvement, a significant number of people are unable to control their urges and find themselves trapped in a cycle of losses and debts. Those with a gambling addiction can often feel powerless to stop gambling and may even attempt to take steps to increase their stakes in order to win back the money they have lost.
A number of psychological and medical theories have been proposed to explain why some people are prone to gambling addiction. These include a general theory of addictions, the reward deficiency syndrome and the behavioral-environmental model.
The most important factor in determining whether someone is likely to develop a gambling disorder is their level of impulse control. People with poor impulse control are more prone to engage in risky behaviours and tend to be more impulsive than others. Therefore, it is not surprising that they are also more likely to engage in risky gambling behaviours.
In addition to the above, a person’s personality and genetic predisposition are also important factors in their vulnerability to developing a gambling problem. Studies have shown that people with a family history of gambling are more likely to become addicted and that genetic traits for compulsive gambling can be passed on from parents to their children.
The age at which a person’s brain is fully mature can have an impact on their risk of gambling problems as well. Studies show that young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 are more prone to gambling problems than other age groups. This is because young people have less developed brains and are more likely to exhibit reckless behaviour.