Gambling is an activity in which people stake something of value, often money, on a random event with the intention of winning a prize. It can take many forms, including lotteries, scratchcards, baccarat and casino games such as poker and blackjack. It also includes betting on events such as horse and greyhound races, football accumulators and political elections. It can also involve speculating on business, insurance and stock markets. Gambling is a risky activity, and there are serious risks associated with it. In addition to the potential for losing valuable assets, gambling can cause health problems such as stress and depression. It can also affect relationships and lead to financial difficulties. Often, gambling is seen as a way to escape from real-world problems and concerns.
Research has shown that identifying your gambling triggers can help you stop the behaviour. Triggers may be people, places or things that make you want to gamble. These could include seeing friends who gamble or travelling past a TAB or casino on your route to work. It is important to identify your triggers so you can prevent them from causing harm.
Identifying your triggers can also help you identify any underlying mental health issues that may be contributing to your gambling problem. It is important to seek treatment for these conditions at the same time as you address your unhealthy gambling habits.
The negative impacts of gambling can be observed at the individual, interpersonal and community/society levels (see Fig 1). Individual level impacts are experienced by gamblers themselves and their close family members. Interpersonal impacts are experienced by others who interact with gamblers, such as work colleagues and neighbours. Community/society level impacts are non-monetary, and include intangible social costs that are difficult to quantify and measure, such as decreased quality of life and social cohesion.
If someone you know is causing harm through harmful gambling, it is important to talk about the issue openly and honestly. Seeking legal and financial advice is a good place to start. You can also seek therapeutic and/or financial counselling for yourself.
Often, people who struggle with gambling are experiencing boredom or a lack of structure in their lives. To avoid these moments of temptation, try to plan ahead and build a regular routine. Aim to get up at a set time, go to the gym, meet friends, complete errands and attend other activities each day. You could also consider joining a support group such as Gamblers Anonymous, which is based on the 12-step recovery program used by Alcoholics Anonymous. Lastly, try to find other activities that will give you a sense of achievement.
