Gambling Disorders
Gambling is an activity in which people bet something of value on the outcome of a specific event. This could be a football match, a lottery draw or a scratchcard game. It involves a risk and is often not what it’s made out to be. It’s important to understand the odds and house edge to avoid getting ripped off.
While some gamble in a safe way, for others gambling can cause problems. It can affect mental health, relationships and performance at work or school. It can also lead to debt and even homelessness. It’s estimated that over 400 suicides each year are linked to problem gambling.
Many people find it hard to recognise when their gambling is becoming a problem. This can be because they don’t have obvious physical symptoms like substance abuse or addiction, but because their lives are affected in many different ways. These effects can include problems in family or social life, arguments and stress, financial strain and feelings of guilt and shame.
Most people will have gambled at some point in their life – perhaps placed a bet on a football match or bought a lottery ticket. While most people do not experience problems, some develop a gambling disorder, which is a recognised mental health condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
People who have gambling disorders often spend more time gambling than they intend to, and feel that they cannot control their behaviour. They may become obsessed with gambling, lose track of time and money, and lie to their friends and family about their gambling activities. They can become depressed, anxious or angry when they are unable to stop gambling and can have thoughts of self-harm. They can also suffer from a range of physical problems such as insomnia and headaches.
It’s important to know the signs of a problem and how to help a friend or family member. Do you gamble to escape worries, boredom or difficulties? Do you or your loved one gamble to celebrate successes and recover from disappointments? Do you or your loved ones often gamble away more than you can afford? Do you or your loved one hide bills, food or rent money from family and friends to fund your gambling habit?
Gambling is a huge business with around £400 billion spent by recreational gamblers each year. This gives a lot of people jobs from dealers to odds compilers and marketing departments. These companies have to make a profit or they will not survive – it’s as simple as that. This means that they need to attract the punters and keep them coming back. They need big bets and margins to make a profit and they also have to compete with other betting operators.
It’s important to understand how gambling works – this can help you spot when it’s not going well and take action. Check out our jargon buster for help with the words used in the world of gambling – knowledge is power.
