Gambling involves taking a chance on an outcome, such as winning a lottery prize, playing casino games or betting on sports or events. Gambling is a popular activity for people of all ages and backgrounds. It can be fun and enjoyable, but it can also lead to harmful gambling behaviour that has the potential to cause financial, physical and psychological harm. Harmful gambling behaviour can be influenced by various factors, including frequency of exposure to gambling, cultural influences, availability of gambling resources and biological and psychological influence.
Some individuals are more likely to develop a gambling problem than others. This can be due to many factors, such as a family history of gambling or an underactive brain reward system that makes it harder to control impulses and weigh risks. It can also be influenced by where you live or your work, as some communities consider gambling to be an acceptable pastime and it can be difficult to recognise when gambling is becoming a problem.
There are also some people who have a genetic predisposition to feel excited and motivated by risk. This can be due to a lack of dopamine in the brain or because their ancestors may have lived through traumatic experiences, which could have left them feeling vulnerable and seeking thrills. These people are often referred to as ‘drug-taking’, as they use drugs such as alcohol and gambling to meet their need for excitement and to relieve boredom or depression.