stopassistedsuicide 
While many people enjoy gambling as an entertaining pastime, for some it becomes a harmful habit. Those who develop problems with gambling are often unable to control their actions and may spend more than they can afford to lose. This can lead to financial difficulties and relationships with friends, family and co-workers can suffer. Many people also find it hard to recognise their problem gambling as a serious issue because of the social and cultural attitudes towards gambling.
Gambling is the wagering of something of value on an event that is determined at least in part by chance. It can take many forms: playing poker or other card games, betting on sports events, buying lottery tickets or scratch cards, placing bets with friends and co-workers in the office break room or even betting on horse races.
The risk-taking and anticipation in gambling is similar to the euphoria created by drug use. It triggers the same chemical reaction in the brain. Gamblers can become addicted to the excitement and a rush of dopamine that they get from throwing dice or pulling a lever on a slot machine. In fact, some studies suggest that impulsive individuals are genetically predisposed to a higher likelihood of developing gambling problems than other people.
A person who develops a gambling problem often believes that they can control the outcome of their bets by using a strategy or by being lucky. It is important to remember that, while luck does play a role in gambling, the odds are against you and you will most likely lose more than you win.
Some people also use gambling as a form of escape or as a way to cope with difficult life experiences. They believe that they can change the odds of winning by playing a game with a friend, making a large bet or even wearing a lucky shirt. This can be extremely dangerous because it can cause a person to ignore the dangers of gambling and lead them into a downward spiral where they cannot control their actions.
Understanding the causes of a gambling addiction is complex because there are so many different factors involved. However, there are several theories that can help explain why some people are more prone to becoming gambling addicts than others. These include: a tendency to replicate an early big win, boredom susceptibility, a poor understanding of random events, a desire to feel in control and an attempt to escape from a stressful situation. These theories are important because they can help explain why some people can easily walk away from a game of poker or from a few spins of the roulette wheel, while others cannot and eventually become a gambling addict. In addition, the development of a gambling addiction can result in dramatic alterations in how the brain sends chemical messages. This can be a result of genetic or psychological predispositions and/or a number of other factors that are not fully understood at this time.