Gambling is any activity in which you risk something of value – such as money or materials – on an uncertain event. This could be placing a bet on a football match, buying a scratchcard or playing casino games such as poker.
You can find gambling in a variety of places such as casinos, racetracks and online. But it can also happen in places that don’t have an obvious gambling environment, such as DIY betting with friends or a ‘fantasy league’ for your favourite team.
Although some people enjoy gambling and do not have any problems, a small group of individuals become very heavily involved in this activity to the point where they are at significant financial and personal cost. This condition is known as Gambling Disorder and can be treated with psychotherapy.
Treatment options include individual therapy, such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, which looks at unconscious processes and can help you become more self-aware of how past experiences affect your behavior. There is also group therapy, which can provide motivation and moral support for those struggling with this condition. You can also benefit from family therapy, which can educate your family members about the disorder and help them support you.
The characteristics of Gambling Disorder are similar to those seen in substance use disorders (SUDs), but there may be some unique features of this condition. For example, one symptom of this disorder is “loss chasing,” which refers to the tendency to continue gambling in an attempt to recoup losses, despite mounting debts.