Gambling is an activity in which people risk money or something of value on the outcome of a game or contest of chance, where the chances of winning are not necessarily evenly balanced with the risks of losing. It includes all types of casino games, lottery, betting on sports events and other forms of gambling.
When gambling becomes problematic, it often stops being about entertainment and instead focuses on profit or escape. In addition, problem gambling can change the way your brain’s reward pathways work. You may become addicted to the rush of dopamine that is released when you have a lucky break or win. This can lead to a vicious cycle where you seek out more and more risky gambling activities in the hope of getting that next big win.
You might also find yourself lying about how much you gamble or secretly gambling when not in the company of others. This is because you may feel that others won’t understand why gambling is important to you, or you might be compelled to up your stakes in an attempt to recoup past losses.
Psychiatrists used to treat pathological gambling as a compulsion, but in May, the American Psychiatric Association moved it to the section on addictions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). If you have a severe problem with gambling, you should consider seeking treatment or rehabilitation. There are many ways to help you overcome gambling addiction, including peer support programs like Gamblers Anonymous or a 12-step program based on the model of Alcoholics Anonymous. You might also try stress reduction techniques or seek therapy for underlying mood disorders such as depression, which can both trigger and be made worse by gambling addiction.
