Gambling is an activity where people risk something of value (money, property or possessions) on an event with uncertain outcome, in the hope of winning more value. While gambling may seem like a harmless pastime, for some it can become a serious problem that can have devastating effects on their health and wellbeing.
People who gamble are at risk for a range of harms, including financial stress, relationship problems, family violence, mental illness and suicide. The negative impacts can be felt throughout the community and can last a lifetime. The growing global availability and promotion of gambling risks increasing social, economic and public health challenges. This requires a coordinated international response to protect consumers from unregulated and illegal activities, promote healthy gambling practices and enable governments to capture lawful taxation revenues.
Some groups of people are at greater risk for developing gambling problems than others, such as adolescents, veterans, older adults, and members of racial or ethnic minority communities. In addition, mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder can trigger or exacerbate gambling behavior.
A person who has a gambling problem can experience a range of symptoms, such as losing control of their money, becoming preoccupied with gambling and not thinking about other aspects of their lives, or experiencing shame, guilt or anger related to their gambling habits. The severity of these symptoms varies, and many people do not seek help because they do not believe their problem is serious enough.
If you have a problem with gambling, talk to someone you trust, such as a friend or professional counsellor. Try to reduce your financial risk factors by not using credit cards or carrying large amounts of cash and by finding alternative recreational activities or hobbies that don’t involve gambling venues. Find a support group, such as Gamblers Anonymous, a 12-step recovery program modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous.
If you are caring for a loved one who has a gambling problem, set boundaries in managing their money and take over some of the responsibility for checking bank or credit card statements. It is also important to understand that there are many different ways to gamble, and some of these methods may not be as harmful as others. For example, if you notice that your loved one has a problem when watching television or around certain friends, try to limit their time around these people or distract them with an activity such as going for a walk.