Gambling is the risking of money or something else of value to predict the outcome of a game involving chance, such as betting on a horse race or a football game. Some people gamble for fun or as part of a social activity. Others develop serious problems with gambling. This article describes what to know about gambling, how it can affect your life and health, and how to get help for yourself or a loved one who may need it.
People who have problems with gambling experience a range of symptoms, including emotional distress and impaired functioning. These problems can also interfere with work, relationships, and daily activities. The good news is that most people who experience difficulties with gambling recover. In fact, the number of people with gambling disorders has fallen over time, mainly because of changes in understanding of gambling and mental health issues.
The most common type of gambling occurs in private settings and involves the wagering of money or items of value. These activities may be as simple as playing card games with friends for fun, or they can involve more elaborate bets on the results of sports events or political elections. In addition, many people place bets on lottery outcomes.
Gambling can be a pleasant and exciting recreational activity for most people, but some individuals become seriously involved in gambling and continue to gamble even when it has significant negative personal, social, and family consequences. A small group of adolescents and adults develops pathological gambling, which is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as persistent and recurrent problem gambling resulting in impairment or distress.