The Effects of Gambling on Health

Gambling involves risking something of value (typically money) on an event that has an element of chance and the potential for winning a prize. It has been part of virtually all societies since prerecorded history and is often incorporated into local customs and rites of passage. Some people may develop a problem with gambling. They might be unable to control their urges, have difficulty separating it from everyday activities and spend a lot of time thinking about or talking about gambling. They may lie to their family and friends or hide evidence of their gambling behavior.

The prevalence of gambling-related problems is increasing. It is important for health care providers to consider whether a patient has a gambling disorder when evaluating them. Moreover, there is growing recognition that pathological gambling has some of the characteristics of an addiction and that it requires screening and treatment in a similar manner to other addictive disorders such as drug or alcohol use.

A significant number of people with gambling problems have underlying mood disorders such as depression, anxiety or stress. These can be triggered or made worse by gambling and also complicate attempts to stop gambling. Therefore, assessing and treating these underlying mood disorders is an important step in addressing the problem of gambling.

Many different things can trigger a person to gamble, including boredom, loneliness, depressed or angry moods, financial difficulties or a desire to escape from or avoid their problems. People with these conditions can be especially vulnerable to gambling and may feel compelled to seek out gambling opportunities, even when they are aware that it is a harmful activity.

For most people, gambling is an enjoyable pastime that provides excitement and the possibility of winning. But for some, it becomes a serious problem that can affect their personal and family lives. Problem gambling is found in people of all ages, from every race and religion, and at every economic level. It is equally prevalent in small towns and big cities.

Changing a habit like this is difficult, but it’s important to understand that you don’t have to do it alone. There are many organizations that offer support, help and counselling for people who have a problem with gambling. You can find them by searching on the internet using keywords like “problem gambling”.

To assess the literature on the effects of gambling on health, we searched the MEDLINE database (1966 to present) using the MeSH term “gambling”. Articles were included if they: