Gambling is a complex activity that involves risk-taking, an element of chance and the expectation of winning something of value. It is a common pastime in many societies and cultures, although it is also a source of conflict and concern. The practice is regulated in most jurisdictions, with some countries offering state-sponsored lotteries, sports betting, and casinos. The DSM-IV, the American Psychiatric Association’s official manual of psychological disorders, classifies compulsive gambling as a pathological disorder. A number of assessment instruments are used in clinical and neurobiological research on gambling, including a small number of youth gambling assessments, such as the Canadian Adolescent Gambling Inventory (CAGI).
While most people who gamble do not have a problem, some individuals develop a serious addiction to the activity that can result in significant consequences to their personal and professional lives. While the causes of gambling problems can be multifactorial, it is often associated with underlying mood disorders such as depression or anxiety that can trigger or worsen the problem.
For some, gambling becomes an addictive behavior because it provides a rush or high that is not available from other activities. Other individuals gamble for coping reasons to relieve stress or because it makes them feel more confident. Still others may gamble for financial reasons, hoping to win money and change their life for the better.
It is believed that there are multiple factors that contribute to the development of a gambling problem, including genetic predispositions to thrill-seeking behaviors and impulsivity. The reward circuitry of the brain plays an important role in impulse control, and it is possible that some people have a “sensitive” or “reactive” reward system that responds more strongly to rewards than do others. Other contributing factors include environmental or cultural influences, which can lead to a more permissive attitude toward gambling and the exploitation of vulnerable populations by predatory gambling operators.
In the United States, the growth of the gambling industry has been facilitated by changes in social values that place an emphasis on financial gain and personal freedoms. Economic instability, such as that resulting from the Great Depression of the 1930s, has contributed to this trend. Businesses have become oriented to the bottom line, and legislators seek more resistant sources of revenue to meet public expenditures.
While some people who engage in gambling do not experience a problem, it is estimated that 10% of gamblers are at risk for developing a gambling disorder. These people exhibit warning signs of pathological gambling, including preoccupation with gambling, a failure to control urges, and an inability to stop gambling even after experiencing significant losses. These symptoms are compared to those of substance use disorders and have led to the DSM-IV classifying gambling as a psychopathological condition. However, there is a need for more empirical validation of the diagnosis before it can be accepted by psychologists. This is especially important since the DSM-IV criteria are based on similar phenomenology to those of substance use disorders.