Gambling involves risking something of value (like money or material goods) on an outcome based entirely on chance. This can happen in a wide range of ways, including betting on sports events or other contests or buying scratchcards. People who gamble are often trying to predict the outcome of these events – for example, whether a football team will win or lose. If they guess correctly, they will win a sum of money determined by the odds. If they are wrong, they will lose the money or goods that they staked.
Most people participate in gambling for fun or as part of a social activity, but there is a small group that becomes addicted to the behaviour and it has negative consequences for their health, wellbeing and relationships. This is known as pathological gambling. Pathological gambling is also called compulsive gambling or pathological gaming and is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a serious mental disorder that affects a person’s ability to control their impulses.
It is thought that some people are more susceptible to developing a gambling problem than others. Men tend to be more vulnerable than women, perhaps because they have a different way of interpreting the value of money. However, research has found that age can play an important role too – teenagers and young adults are more likely to become problem gamblers than older people. This may be partly because their brains aren’t fully mature until the age of 25.
Historically, gambling was viewed as immoral and illegal and was heavily restricted. Today, it is regulated by governments around the world. People who engage in gambling activities can do so legally, but they must adhere to strict regulations about how much they can wager and where they can place their bets.
There is also a growing understanding that some people have a biological predisposition to thrill-seeking behaviours and impulsivity, which can make them more vulnerable to gambling problems. This has been linked with a lack of activity in certain areas of the brain that are responsible for decision-making and controlling impulses.
Some studies have linked a desire for sensation and novelty-seeking with gambling, as well as with alcohol use. This is a part of the theory of reward deficiency syndrome, which argues that these disorders are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Many theories have been put forward to explain why some people develop a gambling problem. These include behavioural-environmental reasons, a general theory of addictions, and the biopsychosocial model. These models help us understand why some people become involved in gambling, and why it can be so difficult for them to stop. They can also help us understand the motivations of a loved one who is struggling with problem gambling, and how these motives might influence their actions. Although these explanations don’t absolve them of responsibility, they can help us empathise with them and support them to seek treatment for their addiction.
