Gambling is a risky activity in which you stake something of value – money, items or services – on an event with a random outcome. It can be fun, but it can also cause problems if it becomes problematic. People with gambling disorders lose control and continue to gamble, often despite serious negative consequences to their personal, family and financial lives.
The main risk of gambling is that you can get into debt, which can make it difficult to pay bills or other essentials. People with a gambling problem sometimes take out payday loans, credit cards or even steal from friends and family to cover their debts. This can be extremely damaging to relationships and creates more stress and anxiety for those close to you. It’s also important to remember that gambling can affect how you feel, whether or not you are losing money or winning. You may feel irritable, short-tempered or guilty about gambling and that can be hard to deal with.
It’s also important to learn healthier ways of dealing with unpleasant feelings, such as socialising with friends who don’t gamble or exercising. This can help to reduce the urge to gamble, as it may be a way to self-soothe or relieve boredom. We know that some people are more at risk of developing a gambling disorder, such as those with lower incomes who have more to gain from a big win and young people – up to 5% of them develop a problem.