Gambling is an activity where people stake money or other items of value in the hope of winning more than they lose. It can take place in casinos, on the Internet and on private gaming machines (e.g. fruit machines and pull-tab games). However, gambling also takes place in social activities like card or board games with friends for small amounts of cash, participating in a sports betting pool or buying lottery tickets with coworkers. This type of social gambling is often regarded as casual and not taken seriously. Nonetheless, it can still be addictive and lead to significant harm.

Problem gambling affects the health and wellbeing of the person affected by it, their relationships with family and friends and their work or study performance. It can also leave them in serious debt or even homeless and can cause mental health issues. The risk of a gambler developing problems can be increased by certain factors, including a history of depression, poor finances and a lack of coping skills to deal with stress or boredom.

In the past, the psychiatric community generally regarded pathological gambling as more of a compulsion than an addiction and it was grouped in with other impulse control disorders such as kleptomania, pyromania or trichotillomania (hair-pulling). In recent years however, understanding of this condition has changed significantly and the American Psychiatric Association has moved pathological gambling into its own section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, called DSM.

A number of organisations provide advice, support and treatment for problem gambling. Some offer face-to-face meetings or telephone helplines while others run residential or inpatient rehab programs. The latter are usually aimed at those with severe gambling problems who cannot overcome them without round-the-clock support.

Many people struggle with gambling addiction because of a combination of factors, including an early big win, the size of that win, boredom susceptibility, impulsivity, a poor understanding of probability and the use of escape coping. Understanding this can help you avoid becoming angry at the person with whom you are struggling with their gambling behaviour and instead focus on helping them seek treatment. It is also important to note that these factors can be present in someone with no prior gambling experience. For this reason, it is vital that everyone understands the risks of gambling and is aware of the help and support that is available. This can help prevent anyone from becoming addicted to gambling or having their gambling become a problem for them. It is important to recognise that there are effective treatments for gambling addiction and that this is a problem that can be overcome. It is possible for a gambler to recover from their problem and reclaim their lives. However, it is not easy and the process can be long and complicated. It is therefore crucial to seek help from a specialist organisation at an early stage. This can help avoid serious financial and personal consequences.