What is Gambling and How Can it Affect You and Your Family?

Gambling

Gambling is any activity in which you risk something of value, usually money, for the chance to win a larger amount. It’s an exciting form of entertainment and can be a great way to socialize with friends and family.

It’s easy to fall into a gambling habit. If you’re worried about your gambling or think it may be affecting you and your family, there are options to help.

Counseling can help you understand the problem and take steps to solve it. It can also be helpful to find support from family and friends.

Medications can treat co-occurring disorders like depression or anxiety that can make it hard to stop gambling.

Mental health professionals have developed criteria to identify problem gambling. These include:

A desire to gamble and the feeling that it’s getting in the way of your life.

Physical and emotional symptoms such as mood swings, loss of interest in other activities, or problems with relationships, work or studies are common signs of a gambling disorder.

Addiction and recovery are difficult and require ongoing support. If you are experiencing difficulty controlling your gambling, contact a Gamblers Anonymous meeting to get help.

Understanding the risk of gambling is an important first step in protecting yourself. Learning about the risks, how they occur, and the ways you can limit them will give you a better idea of whether or not you can safely gamble.

Gambling can be a good source of relaxation and entertainment, but it can be dangerous if you don’t know what to do when you want to gamble. It can lead to financial and legal problems, and it can interfere with relationships, work or study.