Gambling is an activity in which individuals risk something of value (money, possessions, or status) on an event that has a chance of producing a different result. The odds for winning or losing are often fixed, but some gamblers believe that their skill can improve the chances of a win. Regardless of the type of gambling, individuals may lose more than they wager or even end up with nothing. Gambling is a social activity and some people may be influenced by others, particularly friends, relatives, and media images that portray it as fun, sexy and glamorous. In addition, for some individuals, gambling can serve as a distraction from stressful or difficult situations in their lives or an escape from boredom, depression, grief, and/or financial problems.
In addition to the risk of monetary loss, gambling may lead to other types of maladaptive behavior such as bribery, doping or sabotage in sports (to try and gain an edge over a competitor), fraud (to defraud casinos or bettors), and vendetta or murder. Gambling also often leads to addiction and can be accompanied by negative consequences in other areas of life, including health, work, relationships, and personal well-being.
The understanding of pathological gambling has undergone a revolution, similar to that of the alcoholism, in which it is now recognized as an illness and not just as a vice. This change in thinking has been reflected and stimulated by the development of the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association.
