Gambling is a popular pastime that involves betting money or other materials on an event with a chance of winning. It can be done in many different ways, such as placing a bet on a horse race or playing poker. It can also be conducted with virtual money, such as in an online casino. Gambling is also an important economic activity, with the global gambling market estimated to be worth over US$700 billion. However, some people are at risk of developing a problem with gambling. Problem gambling can have severe, lasting consequences, including financial difficulties, relationship breakdown, mental illness and suicide. It can also lead to poor health by diverting money from essential spending, and can negatively impact a person’s employment.
The most well-known risk factor for pathological gambling is impulsivity. This impulsivity is associated with an inability to control one’s actions or feelings, and is a common feature of psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder. In addition, there is a strong association between gambling and sensation-seeking. For example, in a metagame, players might wager marbles or trading card collectibles (such as Magic: The Gathering or Pogs) for the value of their collection. The psychological mechanism underlying gambling is thought to involve a reward deficiency and an inability to delay gratification.
There are a number of instruments available for the diagnosis of pathological gambling, but the reliability of these instruments is dependent on many factors, such as method of validation, interviewing techniques and sampling design. In order to improve the accuracy of these tools, a program of research is needed. This research should include both clinical descriptive studies as well as etiological investigations. It should also be designed to establish construct validity, which is a process by which a diagnostic tool is shown to reliably detect the condition that it is intended to measure.
The easy availability of gambling products, particularly in high-income countries, has led to increased prevalence of gambling harm and is driving up the cost of regulating gambling. It can undermine progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, and has been linked to a range of harms, including debt, bankruptcy, relationship problems, mental illness, and even suicide. WHO recognizes that multisectoral action is required to reduce harm from gambling and promote healthy lifestyles. This must include reducing stigma and shame, ending advertising and promotion, and focusing on other upstream efforts to prevent and reduce gambling harm. It should also include measures aimed at reducing the ability of gambling companies to lure users with VIP schemes that encourage excessive spend, and restrictions on access and availability through centralized account registration that requires gamblers to set binding loss limits. This should be supported by education and awareness campaigns. In particular, it is important to highlight the links between gambling and the use of illicit drugs, as they are often used in combination. These drugs may cause a person to become less aware of the risks, which can increase their vulnerability to gambling harm.