The Dangers of Gambling
Generally, gambling involves wagering something of value on an event with awareness of the risk and in hope of winning something else of value. This can range from lottery tickets to betting on sports events and casino gambling. Gambling is not a socially admirable activity and can have negative impacts on family members, friends, co-workers, and communities.
The four main reasons people gamble include social interactions, financial incentives, the dream of winning money and escape from boredom or stress. In addition to these, other factors that can lead to problematic gambling include a tendency towards expecting repeated small wins (the ‘gambler’s fallacy’), impulsivity, the use of escape coping and genetic or psychological predispositions.
There is a large amount of research examining the economic and labour effects of gambling, but less focus on the impacts that can occur at interpersonal and community/society levels. These include the impact on family members and co-workers, as well as the escalation of debt into bankruptcy or homelessness.
In order to overcome these negative aspects, a person may need to undergo therapy and learn to confront their irrational beliefs and triggers. A common treatment is cognitive-behavior therapy, which teaches them to challenge their thoughts and habits. It is also possible to take a gamble responsibly by setting limits, such as not gambling on an empty stomach or only using cash that you can afford to lose. Our Safeguarding Courses are an excellent way to learn about the risks of gambling and how to prevent it from becoming harmful to vulnerable adults.
