Gambling is the wagering of something of value on an activity based on chance with the potential for a prize win. It has existed in every society since prerecorded history and is a central part of many societies’ customs and rites of passage. It includes betting, fruit machines, sports betting, lotteries, casino games and scratchcards. It is often regarded as a vice and, indeed, some forms of gambling are known to cause addiction.

Research into the brain has shown that some people are genetically predisposed to thrill-seeking behaviour and impulsivity, which can lead to a greater vulnerability to develop a gambling disorder. It also has been found that certain types of gambling can activate the reward system in the brain and trigger a chemical response similar to the one seen with drug addiction.

There are some things you can do to protect yourself from the lure of gambling. Make sure you have a good support network and find other ways to spend your time. It can be helpful to join a peer support group like Gamblers Anonymous, which follows a model similar to Alcoholics Anonymous.

If you are playing a game that involves chance, don’t chase your losses – this is called the gambler’s fallacy and it can be very dangerous. It means putting in more money to try and recoup your losses, rather than stopping when you’ve reached a loss limit or have lost more than you can afford.