Gambling is the act of placing a bet on something of value, usually money, with the hope of winning a prize. Various activities are considered gambling, including games of chance, such as the lottery, slot machines, roulette, blackjack, poker and craps, as well as wagering on sports events and horse races. Many governments prohibit or heavily regulate gambling. Some people are unable to control their gambling behavior and become addicted. This is known as compulsive gambling. Compulsive gamblers often find themselves in debt and struggling to pay their bills. Some even lose their homes, jobs and families due to their addiction. There are several treatment options for people with a gambling problem, including psychotherapy and medication.
Research on gambling has focused primarily on its effects on the individual. In particular, researchers have examined the factors that contribute to an individual’s risk for developing a gambling disorder. This has included examining the impact of personality traits, other mental health conditions and a person’s environment on their gambling behaviors. One of the most important factors influencing an individual’s gambler risk is his or her impulse control. Impulse control disorders are characterized by an inability to delay gratification. They also include difficulties with self-regulation and a tendency to engage in sensation-and novelty-seeking behavior. In addition, these disorders are associated with poor judgment and a lack of empathy.
While the research on gambling is extensive, there are still a number of challenges to understanding this activity. First, there is a need for a common nomenclature among those who study this issue. This is because research scientists, psychiatrists and other treatment clinicians and public policy makers typically frame their considerations of gambling differently based on their disciplinary training, experience and special interests.
In addition, it is important to use a longitudinal design in gambling research. Longitudinal studies allow researchers to identify and test specific causal pathways that lead to gambling problems. This is particularly helpful when assessing the effect of legalized gambling on individuals, families and communities.
Because of the complexity of conducting these types of research, it is important to recognize that there is little scientific consensus on whether pathological gambling should be classified as an impulse control disorder. For example, there is a debate about how to classify other types of disorders that involve a similar combination of symptoms, such as cocaine abuse and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Regardless of the classification of an individual’s gambling behavior, the most important step in treating a gambling addiction is admitting that he or she has a problem. Although this is not always easy, especially when a person has lost significant amounts of money and strained or broken relationships as a result of his or her gambling habit, it can be the beginning of the journey to recovery. To help people break their gambling addictions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any medications specifically for this purpose, but there are several types of psychotherapy that can be effective. These treatments can be individualized for each patient and are administered by licensed, trained mental health professionals.