Gambling is the wagering of something of value on an event with an uncertain outcome and a chance of winning money or other material goods. In order to be considered gambling, there must be three elements: consideration, risk and a prize. Compulsive gambling can be very addictive and lead to other problems in a person’s life such as depression, financial difficulties and damaged relationships.
To overcome problem gambling, it is important to seek help for any underlying mood disorders that may contribute or be made worse by problematic gambling. Seek support groups, individual counseling or inpatient or residential treatment and rehab programs. In addition, it is helpful to get family therapy and marriage, career and credit counseling. This can help resolve any issues that have been created by problem gambling and lay a foundation for future healthy functioning.
Before you walk onto a casino floor, decide how much you’re comfortable to lose and stick to it. Also, don’t drink too many free cocktails, as these can cause you to gamble recklessly and increase your risk of losing more money. Finally, never chase your losses; this is called the gambler’s fallacy and it leads you to believe that you’re due for a big win, so you’ll start betting more and more money until you’re back in the black. This can lead to debt, the use of illegal activities and even jeopardize relationships and jobs. Research on the impact of gambling can be most effective and cost-efficient using a longitudinal design, which can identify and elucidate factors that moderate and exacerbate an individual’s gambling participation.
