Gambling is a form of entertainment that involves risking something of value on an event with uncertain outcome in the hope of winning a prize. The game of gambling has been part of human culture for thousands of years and continues to be a popular activity worldwide. While many people enjoy gambling as a social or recreational activity, some become addicted to it and experience negative personal, family, and financial consequences. This addiction can be difficult to overcome, but there are treatment options available.

Generally, there are four main reasons why people gamble. Some people gamble to escape from daily problems, others do it for the rush or excitement, while some believe they can win big and change their lives. It is also possible to be driven by social pressures to join a group of people who gamble or to lie about their gambling to avoid being shamed. There is also a strong relationship between gambling and impulsive behavior. Research shows that a person’s likelihood of becoming a gambler is increased by their tendency to engage in sensation- and novelty-seeking behaviors, arousal, and negative emotionality.

There are many benefits of gambling, including socializing, mental development, and skill improvement. However, the positive effects are only seen if a person gambles in moderation. Moreover, the negative effects are amplified when gambling becomes an addiction. There are a number of ways to overcome an addiction to gambling, including treatment programs and peer support groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous.

In the past, those who had negative consequences from gambling were viewed as having psychological problems rather than as having an illness. As a result, the recognition and treatment of problem gambling has undergone a revolution over the last few decades. A major reason for this change is the introduction of the diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling in the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association (DSM).

These changes have been facilitated by improved understanding of the causes and consequences of pathological gambling and by advances in research on this subject. Among the most important advances have been the recognition of the need for an expanded definition of pathological gambling, as well as for improved methods of assessment and treatment.

In addition, more is now known about the costs and benefits of gambling. These can be classified as internal and external, with the former affecting the individual gambler and the latter influencing society/community level (see Fig 1). Specifically, these costs and benefits are categorized into three classes: financial, labor and health, and community/society. Financial costs can include gambling revenues, taxes, losses to other industries, infrastructure cost or value changes, and job gains and losses. Labor and health impacts are indirect costs that can be seen at both the personal and interpersonal levels, such as reduced work performance, absenteeism, and injury and illnesses. Finally, community/societal impacts are the direct costs and benefits that affect those outside the gambler, such as family members and friends, and can be intangible or monetary.