Gambling involves risking something of value (usually money) in a hope of winning a greater amount. It can be very addictive and can cause problems with relationships, work and health. Problem gambling can have a devastating impact on people and their families. It can lead to financial stress, family breakdown, job loss and mental illness. In extreme cases it can lead to self-harm and even suicide.
It is often hard to know when gambling has become a problem, particularly for loved ones, as it can be very secretive. In addition, there are no visible signs of addiction like in alcohol or drug abuse. The term ‘hidden addiction’ is used to describe the difficulty in identifying and responding to this type of behaviour.
The development of a comprehensive framework of assessment is an essential step in preventing gambling-related harms. This includes the development of diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling, which is a serious mental health condition. Currently, there are several instruments available to assess gambling behaviour, but it is important that these are carefully evaluated for validity and reliability. It is also necessary to consider how these tools can be used in the general health setting and whether they should be considered as part of the broader evaluation for addictive disorders.
In addition to diagnosing and treating those with gambling problems, it is important to reduce the social and economic costs of this activity. This can be achieved by reducing gambling promotion and increasing regulation to reduce the availability of gambling. It is also important to support people who are trying to give up gambling by providing them with alternatives such as alternative recreational activities, education, skills training and financial counselling.
There are a number of strategies that can be implemented to reduce the risk of gambling-related harm, including universal pre-commitment systems and self-exclusion (allowing people to set binding limits on time and money spent gambling). These systems are most effective when they are mandatory and enforceable. Voluntary systems are rarely uptaken and have poor adherence. Prevention is the most cost-effective strategy and should be a primary goal of government policy.
People who have a history of severe gambling disorder are more than 15 times as likely to die of suicide as the general population. Suicide is a tragic consequence of gambling and should be treated as a major public health concern. There are some steps that can be taken to prevent suicides resulting from gambling problems, including: