Gambling Addiction

Gambling is risking money or valuables (including other people’s money) on an activity with a random element, where there is the possibility of winning or losing. It can include playing card games, dice games, and betting on events like football accumulators or horse races in private settings. It can also involve wagering on activities where skill can reduce the randomness of the outcome, such as using strategy to improve chances in a card game or knowing more about horses and jockeys for a bet.

Some people have problems with gambling, and this can lead to serious consequences such as loss of money or belongings, affecting work and family life, and distress and anxiety. They may feel compelled to gamble, even when they know they should stop. They may be secretive about their gambling or lie to others and may try to get back lost money by raising their stakes. They might even steal money or other things to fund their gambling.

The DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling suggest it is similar to substance abuse, but research into the relationship between gambling and addiction is inconclusive. This is partly because of the lack of comparison groups and the fact that a large number of people meet the DSM-IV criteria for having been a pathological gambler at some point in their lives but do not currently have any symptoms of the disorder. However, there are similarities between gambling and some other types of addictive behaviour such as shopping, overeating or internet use.