Whether it’s buying a lottery ticket, placing a bet on a sporting event or taking your chances at a casino, gambling can be fun and exciting. But it can also cause serious problems for some people. Problem gambling is sometimes referred to as compulsive gambling, pathological gambling or gambling addiction and can be harmful to your health, relationships and finances. It can also lead to gambling-related stress, anxiety and depression. If you’re concerned about your gambling, speak to one of our counsellors. Our helpline is free and confidential.
The earliest evidence of gambling was found in ancient China. Tiles dating back to around 2,300 B.C. were found that appeared to be used to play a rudimentary game of chance, believed to be a lottery-type game. Gambling has long been a popular pastime, but has been discouraged by many governments and societies. In fact, it’s illegal to gamble in most countries. It has also been a source of controversy because it can be addictive, especially if you’re not in control of your spending.
A surprisingly large number of people have a gambling problem. While some gamble only occasionally and with money they can afford to lose, others become addicted to the adrenaline rush of winning and losing and end up in debt or even homeless. Some people even experience suicidal thoughts as a result of their gambling.
Some people may not know if they have a problem with gambling, because the symptoms can vary widely and are difficult to measure. They may hide their gambling and lie about how much they’re spending. They might even start to think they’re due a win, which is known as the “gambler’s fallacy.” Chasing losses can also lead to bigger and bigger losses.
Researchers are learning more about the psychology of gambling, thanks to recent studies on brain imaging. They’re finding that gambling stimulates the same brain circuits as drug use and tests of impulse control. Neuroscientists have also discovered that virtual cards and other random choices in gambling games can affect the reward schedule of your brain, making you feel good or bad.
In the past, the psychiatric community has viewed gambling as more of an impulse-control disorder than an addiction, but in the 1980s, while updating its diagnostic manual (DSM), the American Psychiatric Association officially classified pathological gambling as a form of compulsive behavior, similar to kleptomania and pyromania. In addition to defining the term pathological gambling, DSM-III and DSM-IV classified it as a type of substance dependence. The current edition of the manual, DSM-5, moves pathological gambling into the addictions chapter. This is a significant change.