Gambling is an activity in which people risk something of value, such as money or goods, on an event that is at least partly determined by chance. People gamble in casinos, racetracks, on the Internet, and even in their homes by buying lottery tickets or betting on sports events. Gambling is also a social activity, with many people visiting casino restaurants, pooling resources to place bets, or purchasing lottery tickets together.
Almost everyone has gambled at some point. However, for some people, gambling can become a serious problem. When this occurs, it’s important to seek treatment.
Gambling can have harmful effects on individuals and the wider community. These impacts can be structuralized as a cost-benefit model with three levels: personal, interpersonal and society/community. Individual-level impacts are invisible and are incurred by gamblers themselves, while society/community-level external costs include general impacts, costs related to problem gambling and long-term costs.
There are many ways to reduce the harm associated with gambling. For example, avoiding places where gambling takes place and limiting how much money is spent on entertainment can help. Another strategy is to find healthier and more effective ways of relieving unpleasant emotions or boredom, such as exercising, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, and practicing relaxation techniques. It’s also important to identify and challenge unhealthy thought patterns, such as irrational beliefs and the illusion of control, which can contribute to compulsive gambling behaviours. It’s important to leave credit cards and nonessential cash at home and limit how much time is spent on recreational activities.