Gambling involves betting something of value, with consciousness of risk and hope of gain, on an event whose outcome is determined by chance. Gambling can include activities such as playing games of chance (like the lottery or slot machines), and can also involve skills that may improve one’s chances of winning, such as card-playing strategies or knowledge of horses and jockeys.
The majority of individuals who engage in gambling do so without experiencing problems. However, for a small group of people, the activity becomes harmful and has significant personal, social, family, and financial impacts.
Understanding when gambling becomes a problem requires a careful assessment of the individual’s behavior and circumstances. The amount of money lost or won does not determine whether gambling is problematic; it’s when the activity interferes with an individual’s relationships, employment, mental or physical health that this becomes a problem.
Behavioral therapy can help with gambling addiction, especially when a person’s addiction is based on the compulsion to gamble. A therapist can teach a person new skills to stop thinking about gambling and to replace the urge with healthy behaviors like exercising, spending time with friends, or doing something else that gives them joy. Another helpful strategy is to seek peer support groups for gambling addiction, such as Gamblers Anonymous or a similar program patterned after Alcoholics Anonymous. Other useful tools are to strengthen one’s support network, set boundaries around gambling by closing online accounts and limiting how much money is kept on hand, and to find new ways to feel excited and happy in life, such as visiting museums or taking a class.