Gambling is an activity in which a person places bets on events that have uncertain outcomes, often based on money or another valuable object. Examples include playing fruit machines, scratchcards and betting on sports games or events such as a race or a lottery.
A gambling problem is a serious health issue that can cause significant harm to someone’s life. It’s important to learn to identify a gambling problem early on, so that you can seek treatment and support.
People may also gamble to self-soothe emotional or psychological distress. For example, they might gamble to reduce stress or unwind after a hard day at work or an argument with their partner.
The impact of gambling on a person’s life can range from social isolation, financial problems and loss of income to depression and relationship breakdown. In addition, gambling can lead to mental illness, including gambling disorder and compulsive gambling.
It’s important to recognise that there are a number of ways to help with a gambling problem, from counselling and support services to abstaining altogether. Some people may be able to control their gambling, whilst others need more help.
Harm from Gambling is defined as any experience of harm associated with gambling across the continuum of first experience through to legacy and intergenerational harms.
Taking this definition into account, it is possible to understand the complexity of experiences of harm from gambling across the lifecourse. Moreover, it is possible to identify and measure specific instances of harm, and to link these with relevant diagnostic criteria and symptomatology. This provides a more comprehensive understanding of gambling related harm from a public health perspective, allowing it to be incorporated into standard public health approaches to measuring harms.