When Gambling Becomes a Problem

Gambling involves betting on an event – such as a football match or scratchcard – that is determined by chance and has the potential to deliver a prize. It is an activity that can be rewarding, especially when you win, but also risky, and it can result in a low when you lose. It is important to recognise when gambling becomes a problem. Problematic gambling can be dangerous for your physical and mental health and it can also affect those closest to you.

Many people enjoy gambling for the socialization it provides, and it can be especially enjoyable when you are with friends. It can be a great way to escape from everyday stresses and it can help you develop new skills. However, it is important to know that gambling can become a problem when it is no longer about enjoyment or profit and you begin to lose control. If you have a problem with gambling, you should seek help and consider joining a support group, such as Gamblers Anonymous, which is similar to Alcoholics Anonymous.

The compulsion to gamble can be difficult to overcome, and it is often triggered by a variety of factors. These include the anticipation of an early big win, a heightened sense of boredom, impulsivity, a poor understanding of random events, the use of escape coping and stressful life experiences.

Some studies have examined the economic costs associated with gambling, while others have focused on personal and interpersonal impacts. The latter are mostly non-monetary in nature and include the effects on gamblers’ quality of life, which can be measured using disability weights or equivalent measures.

The main methodological challenge has been to measure the societal impacts of gambling, including negative costs and benefits. There is a need to develop common methodology for this, as different stakeholders frame the question from a number of perspectives, depending on their discipline, professional experience and world view. For example, research scientists, psychiatrists and other treatment care clinicians tend to focus on the risk factors for gambling problems (e.g., diminished mathematical abilities, poor judgment, cognitive distortions and mental illness), while economists tend to emphasise the monetary benefits. There is a need to integrate these complementary approaches and adopt a broader public health perspective. This will be crucial to a comprehensive assessment of the risks and benefits associated with gambling. It will also allow us to better understand the impact of gambling on society and the role government should play in addressing these issues. This article will review complementing and contrasting views on this issue in order to build the conceptual model discussed above. It will discuss how a public health approach can address some of the limitations of current research into the impacts of gambling. In particular, it will highlight the need to incorporate the intangible social costs of gambling and explore ways to discover these costs, such as through the use of health-related quality of life measurement instruments.