Gambling is the act of placing something of value (like money) on an event with a random outcome, where instances of skill are discounted. It is a common activity amongst people of all ages and backgrounds, with many gambling venues having a variety of products on offer.

While for most, gambling is an enjoyable social activity and can provide a small amount of enjoyment and excitement, for some, it becomes an addiction that negatively impacts their health, relationships and work and school performance. It can also lead to significant debt and in some cases even homelessness. Problem gambling can affect the whole family, including children.

Trying to control or stop the urge to gamble can be hard and there is no quick fix. However, there are lots of resources and services available to help you with your gambling problems. Some of these include;

If you feel the need to hide your gambling from your friends and family, or lie about how much you gamble, this can be a sign that you are repressing your feelings. It can also be a sign that you are avoiding other activities in your life because of your gambling. This can cause your loved ones to feel distant and may impact on your friendships.

Having a gambling addiction can be a serious problem, and it is important to seek help as soon as possible. You can find support from your GP or local NHS services, from self-help websites such as ours, or from specialist gambling treatment and rehab providers. There is also a range of free support and helplines available.

Many people have mixed views about whether gambling should be legalised, but the truth is that there are already a number of different types of gambling on the market and they all contribute to society. Trying to legislate away gambling is likely to not be very effective as it creates a vacuum that will be filled by someone else who wants to do it.

Gambling has also come to be seen as a mental illness in recent years, with people experiencing negative effects of gambling being referred to psychiatrists for treatment. This is in line with the change in understanding of alcoholism, which was once viewed as just a bad habit but is now recognised to be a mental health disorder.

There are four main reasons why people gamble. These include; for coping reasons – to help them forget their worries, to make them feel more confident or to distract them from other negative emotions, for financial reasons – to win a prize, or to try and make up for previous losses and for entertainment purposes – to get that feeling of ‘high’. These reasons don’t excuse your loved one for their gambling problems but they might help you understand why they can be so difficult to stop. If you want to help them overcome their addiction, it’s best to start with education. This includes educating yourself about the issues and learning how to spot the warning signs.