0
0
Gambling occurs when people risk something of value (such as money) on the chance that they might win a prize. It can be done in many ways, including playing games of chance or skill like poker, sports betting or horse racing. It also can happen at casinos, in bingo halls and on the Internet. People who gamble often spend more than they can afford, which can lead to financial problems. They may miss bills, max out credit cards or even steal money from family members or friends in order to gamble. In extreme cases this can lead to suicidal feelings.
Some people seem to be more likely to develop a gambling problem than others. For example, men are more likely to become compulsive gamblers than women. People who start gambling at a younger age are more likely to become addicted. And people who have a close relative with a gambling problem are more likely to get one too. People who have a depression or anxiety disorder are also at greater risk of developing a gambling problem.
There is a growing role for evaluating patients in primary care settings for addictive disorders, including pathological gambling. However, research in this area has been limited. Many of the studies that do exist are small, single-center, and uncontrolled, and some have found no relationship between gambling behavior and health outcomes. Nevertheless, there is a growing body of evidence that pathological gambling should be considered an addiction.
