People gamble for a variety of reasons. Some do it for social reasons – it’s what they do with their friends, or because winning money makes them feel good. Others do it for coping reasons – it helps them forget their worries, or because they’re feeling nervous or depressed. And some gamble for fun – they enjoy the thrill of trying to win, or they like thinking about what they would do with a big jackpot.
But gambling is not without its risks, and even a small amount of time spent gambling can lead to an increase in anxiety and depression. And if a person is already struggling with these issues, they are much more likely to develop an addiction to gambling. There are also some warning signs to watch out for. For example, if someone hides their gambling or lies about it to family and friends, or has a secret credit card or bank account they use to fund their habit, they may be at risk of developing a problem.
It’s important to remember that gambling is not a profitable way to make money, and you should only ever gamble with money that you can afford to lose. If you are worried about a loved one, it is a good idea to check out the treatment options available for gambling addiction. These are effective and can help you understand what causes a person to become addicted to gambling, so you can support them in the right way.
Some of the main factors that contribute to a person becoming addicted to gambling are financial problems, poor self-control and a tendency to chase losses. People are more sensitive to losses than gains of equal value – losing a PS10 note generates a much greater emotional reaction than finding PS10. This can lead people to endlessly invest time and money in chasing losses, hoping that they will eventually get back what they have lost. This is known as the Gambler’s Fallacy.
Another factor contributing to a person becoming addicted to gambling is the ‘partial reinforcement’ effect. This is when an action only produces a positive outcome some of the time, rather than 100% of the time. So when a person is not winning, they can still feel happy, as they know that they will ultimately win if they keep playing.
The final factor contributing to a person becoming addicted to betting is a lack of cognitive control. The prefrontal cortex of the brain is activated when a person is engaging in gambling, but this activation decreases with repeated engagement. This is why it’s so important to be able to step away from a game once you’ve won some money.
The positive side of gambling is that it can provide a range of benefits for an individual, such as socialising, mental development and skill improvement. The negative side is when it becomes an addiction and affects a person’s daily life. Understanding this can help you to better support a friend or colleague who is experiencing difficulties with their gambling.