Gambling involves betting money or something else of value on an uncertain event with the intention of winning. It is considered an addictive behaviour and classified as an impulse control disorder in the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

There are many reasons why people gamble, including for entertainment, to socialise or to escape worries and stress. For some, it becomes a problem when they start betting more than they can afford to lose and begin hiding or lying about their gambling.

The psychology of gambling

Many people with a gambling problem have an underlying mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. These conditions can make it more difficult to recognise and seek help for a gambling problem, and they can also cause people to hide their gambling or lie about how much they’re spending.

Some people are genetically predisposed to developing a gambling addiction. Certain genes affect the way that people process reward information and control their impulsivity. This can increase the risk of developing an addictive gambling pattern, especially if someone is exposed to stressful life events such as unemployment or relationship difficulties.

Other factors that can contribute to a gambling addiction include family history, personality traits and coexisting mental health conditions. It’s important to seek professional help if you have concerns about your loved ones’ gambling habits. Psychological therapies such as cognitive behaviour therapy can be helpful for helping people overcome a gambling addiction. This type of therapy looks at the logic behind gambling, including beliefs about the odds of winning and whether it’s a matter of skill or luck in non-skills-based games.

There are a number of things that you can do to help support a person with a gambling problem, such as encouraging them to spend time with friends who don’t gamble or helping them to find other ways to relieve boredom and stress. It’s also important to teach them healthy coping strategies, such as exercise, self-care and relaxation techniques.

You can also encourage them to budget their gambling activities and only bet what they can afford to lose. This will help them avoid financial crisis and reduce their risk of relapse. It’s also important to help them to find other sources of income, such as taking on a part-time job, selling possessions or seeking out debt advice. Finally, you can try to limit their access to funds by limiting credit cards and setting spending limits.