Gambling is an activity in which a person risks something of value (often money) on the outcome of a game of chance or skill. Some forms of gambling involve real money, while others are conducted with items that have value but are not money, such as marbles in a marbles game or collectible cards in a card game like Magic: The Gathering. Gambling is a major international commercial activity, with the global legal gambling market estimated to be worth more than $10 trillion.
In addition to its economic significance, gambling has a number of psychological and social impacts. Problem gambling can lead to financial difficulty, family problems, work-related issues and mental health difficulties such as depression. Individuals who engage in problematic gambling may also be at risk for substance abuse.
Many people gamble to relieve boredom or stress, or to make a profit. However, gambling becomes problematic when it takes on an addictive character and the behavior is out of control. Problematic gambling can cause significant harm to the individual, their family and their community.
The reasons people become addicted to gambling are complex and vary between individuals. However, some of the most common factors include an early big win, boredom susceptibility, impulsivity, poor understanding of random events, use of escape coping, stressful life experiences and depression.
As with any other addiction, the key to recovering from gambling is recognizing that it is a destructive behavior and taking action to stop. A person with an addiction to gambling will often attempt to compensate for their negative behavior by denying or hiding the problem, lying to friends and family members, and engaging in other risky behaviors such as stealing or using illegal drugs.
A key component of recovery is support. A person with a gambling addiction should seek help from a treatment provider and join a support group, such as Gamblers Anonymous, which follows the model of Alcoholics Anonymous. A therapist trained in the treatment of gambling addiction can also provide valuable guidance and support.
A longitudinal study is a type of research design that allows researchers to observe and measure changes in behavior over time. In the case of gambling, a longitudinal study could be used to identify and test for factors that modify or exacerbate a person’s participation in gambling over time. Despite the obvious benefits of longitudinal studies, there are some barriers to conducting these kinds of studies, including the enormous investment required to conduct a multiyear study and difficulties in maintaining sample continuity over a long period of time. However, as the field of gambling research advances, longitudinal studies are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated. They are particularly useful for identifying and testing factors that moderate and exacerbate the effects of gambling on a person and their community.