Classifying Gambling
Gambling is risky and involves placing money or other valuables on an event with a uncertain outcome. It can also affect one’s personal and professional lives, often with severe consequences for others. Despite these risks, gambling is widespread and often hidden. It can be found in casinos, online, on television, and in a variety of other settings. It is promoted through a range of tactics, including VIP schemes, special offers and sponsorship of sports teams. Gambling is associated with high levels of harm, and requires a multisectoral response to reduce its prevalence.
In its most extreme form, pathological gambling causes severe psychological, social and financial problems. Symptoms include impaired control, compulsive behavior, and feelings of shame and guilt. It can be difficult to diagnose, but there are a number of tools and strategies to help people with this problem.
Although the term ‘gambling’ is used to describe a wide range of activities, the most common definition is wagering money or other items with an uncertain outcome. It can also involve activities with a low expected value, such as lottery tickets or scratchcards. Historically, the word has been used to refer to unfair playing or cheating at games, but in modern times it has been applied to a broader range of activities.
Historically, there have been many views of gambling, with some viewing it as morally wrong, while others have viewed it as recreational or fun. In the 18th and 19th centuries, gambling was popular on Mississippi riverboats and in Wild West frontier towns. It declined as moral conservativism grew in the 20th century, and it is only since the introduction of legalized gambling that it has regained some popularity.
A challenge of classifying gambling is that there is no universally agreed-upon nomenclature. Researchers, psychiatrists and other treatment care clinicians, and public policy makers frame questions about gambling differently, depending on their disciplinary training, experiences and world view. This has contributed to the lack of a commonly accepted classification system for gambling disorders.
Another reason for the lack of a widely accepted classification is the difficulty in measuring the severity of gambling problems. It is difficult to establish clear criteria for diagnosis, and the criteria that has been developed tend to be based on the same concepts as substance use disorder (Lesieur 1984). These are unidimensional, focus on external consequences, and middle-class bias (Winter, Specker and Stinchfield 1997).
The best way to prevent gambling problems is to avoid gambling altogether or to play responsibly. Set a time limit for how long you want to spend gambling and stick to it. Keep in mind that the longer you gamble, the more likely you are to lose. Don’t try to win back the money you have lost – this only leads to more losses and stress. Set boundaries for yourself and create a budget before you head to the casino floor. Leaving your ATM card at home and making sure you have enough cash to last the whole night is also a good idea.
