Gambling is the betting of money or other items of value on activities with uncertain outcomes, primarily those involving chance or uncertainty (Oxford English Dictionary, second edition, 1989). It is estimated that over $10 trillion is wagered legally each year around the world. There are many different types of gambling, including casinos, lotteries, and sports wagering such as football accumulators. It is also possible to place wagers via the Internet.
Whether people gamble for social, financial or entertainment reasons, the activity causes them to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel excited and happy. This chemical effect explains why so many people find it hard to stop gambling.
A person with a gambling problem may experience negative consequences, which can interfere with their relationships, health, job performance and studies. This can lead to depression, debt and even homelessness. Problem gambling is a serious mental health issue that can affect anyone regardless of age, race, culture or economic status.
The understanding of gambling and its adverse effects has undergone a great deal of change over time. Research scientists, psychiatrists and other treatment care clinicians have framed the issues differently depending on their disciplinary training, special interest or professional background. This has contributed to a variety of paradigms or world views from which to view gambling and its problems, and has stimulated debate. In recent years, pathological gambling has been compared to substance abuse and addiction, an analogy that has gained currency in the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association.