Gambling As a Health Concern

Gambling is a social activity in which participants bet something of value, often money, on the outcome of an uncertain event whose result may be determined by chance. A small percentage of individuals become so deeply involved in gambling that it becomes an addiction, resulting in adverse personal, family and financial consequences.

The psychological process and events that occur during gambling involve several cognitive and motivational elements. These elements are consistent across the various forms of gambling (e.g., slot machines, sports betting, and horse racing), although they may vary in importance. Among these are a tendency to place excessive emphasis on the outcome of the wager (i.e, overconfidence), the belief that one’s own choices are superior to those of others (i.e, confirmation bias), and the use of illusory or misleading information (i.e, fallacy of the liar).

There is growing recognition of the role of gambling as an addictive disorder in primary care settings. While the majority of people who gamble do so for entertainment and are not influenced by pathological gambling, it is important to evaluate patients for this condition because it has significant health risks.

Psychotherapy is an effective treatment for problem gambling and includes techniques designed to help a person identify unhealthy emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Some types of psychotherapy also teach a person new ways to cope with stress. Framing the issue as a potential health concern can reduce resistance to help and increase likelihood of success.