Gambling Disorders
Gambling is a popular pastime in many countries, and it contributes to the economic stability of some economies. However, there are also some negative impacts of gambling, including the effect on gamblers’ relationships with family and friends, as well as their health and well-being.
While most people who gamble do so responsibly, a small proportion develop a gambling disorder. This is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as a recurrent pattern of gambling behavior that causes significant distress or impairment. The risk of developing a gambling disorder is higher in some groups than others, such as young people and men.
Gambling can take place in a variety of settings and involve a range of activities. Private gambling is common in families and among friends who play card games like poker, blackjack, or spades, as well as betting on sports events or horse races. More public forms of gambling include casino gambling, lotteries, and bingo. People who gamble may win or lose money, but the primary aim is to have fun and interact with others.
Some people may be predisposed to gambling addiction because of genetic or neurological factors that affect their brain reward systems and ability to control impulses and weigh risks. They might also have a history of trauma or abuse in their childhood. Other factors that can cause gambling addiction are poverty, stress, depression, or a lack of positive coping skills.
Problem gambling can be difficult to recognize because it is often hidden from family and friends, but it can take a major toll on a person’s physical and emotional health. It can also lead to financial ruin, bankruptcy, homelessness, and suicide. The good news is that help is available for those who are struggling with gambling addiction.
The main way to fight gambling addiction is to get support. This can be done through therapy and peer-support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous, a program modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous. In addition, it is important to make new friends and spend time with them in ways that do not involve gambling.
Symptoms of gambling addiction include being secretive about gambling or lying to hide it, losing control over spending and hiding money, being preoccupied with thoughts about gambling, and chasing losses. Other signs that someone might have a gambling problem are being late for work or school, being harassed by bill collectors, hiding rent/mortgage money or food money, or avoiding debt or credit issues.
While there are some methodological challenges in assessing the impact of gambling, research has created a framework for comparing costs and benefits using a public health approach. Despite these limitations, it is possible to identify the significant negative effects of gambling and the important opportunities for reducing them. This article reviews complementing and contrasting methodologies to propose a conceptual model for analyzing gambling impacts on society based on the DSM- 5. The aim of this framework is to create a common methodology for assessing both personal and community/society level impacts, which have been overlooked in previous studies because they are not readily quantifiable.
