People gamble for many reasons – the thrill of winning money, socialising with friends or even to escape from worries or stress. For some, gambling can become out of control and lead to addiction. If you’re worried that your gambling is affecting your life, there’s help available. You can speak to a therapist and join support groups. There are also self-help tips that can help.
Gambling is a risky activity wherein a person bets something of value (money or assets) on an event with a random outcome. There are different types of gambling such as sports betting, casino games and online gaming. Gambling causes impacts on the personal, interpersonal and community/societal levels. These impacts can be negative or positive in nature.
Some of the negative impacts of gambling include financial, labor and health and well-being. Gambling is linked to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety and can lead to substance abuse. If you have a mood disorder, it’s important to seek treatment for it before you start gambling. Moreover, it’s recommended not to gamble with money that you need for bills and daily expenses. This way, you can avoid chasing losses and getting into debt. If you’re thinking about gambling, set limits for yourself such as a weekly entertainment budget. Avoid free cocktails at casinos and don’t be tempted by the idea that you’re “due for a win” or can recoup your losses. These thoughts are known as the gambler’s fallacy and are a common trigger of relapse.
