Gambling involves wagering something of value on the outcome of a random event, such as scratchcards or a horse race. The winnings can be monetary or non-monetary. Gambling can also take place in a social context, such as betting with friends or family members. In the United States, gambling is regulated by state and federal laws.
The growing role of primary care settings for evaluating patients with addictive disorders includes assessing pathological gambling behaviors, but little is known about how to screen for and treat these conditions. This article reviews the rationale for viewing pathological gambling as an addiction, outlines screening strategies and discusses research on the health effects of gambling.
Many factors may influence a person’s propensity for gambling, including genetics and environmental factors. Identical twins tend to show similar risk, suggesting a biological link, and gambling disorder appears to run in families, possibly as a result of negative childhood experiences.
People can help themselves by strengthening their support network, staying busy and engaging in healthy activities. Hobbies like reading, sports and playing music provide an emotional outlet and can prevent compulsive gambling. Other stress-reduction practices, such as regular exercise and adequate rest, can improve resilience to temptation and help reduce feelings of irritability and anxiety, which often fuel the urge to gamble. It’s also important to identify and challenge negative thinking patterns, such as the illusion of control and irrational beliefs, that increase compulsive gambling. This can be done through self-help groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous, which is a 12-step recovery program modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous.