Gambling is the wagering of something of value on an event with a random outcome and where instances of strategy are discounted. It is considered a behavioral disorder in which the underlying factors include poor judgment, cognitive distortions and mental illness. People may gamble for recreational purposes or as a means of social interaction, such as a card game. However, there are also some people who engage in gambling for other reasons such as to escape from reality, denial of problems, or to make money. This activity can take many forms, including online or mobile games where people wager virtual currency.
Despite this, the vast majority of gambling is conducted within a private setting. For example, friends and family often play poker or other cards for fun, with a primary aim of enjoyment and social interaction. Privately wagered sports bets, like football or horse races, are another form of gambling. However, the risk of loss is always present, and it is possible for these bets to lead to financial distress.
In addition to a desire to have more fun or improve their lives, people gamble for the thrill of winning. When they win, their brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of reward and excitement. The problem is that some people feel this neurological response even when they lose, which can lead them to keep betting and losing more and more money.
The psychology of gambling is complex and has been viewed from a number of different angles. For example, some observers have compared the behavior to substance abuse. However, the DSM does not categorize pathological gambling as an addiction because the evidence is based mainly on studies of persons in treatment, who had no control groups.
Researchers have shown that problem and pathological gamblers’ brains react differently than those of people who do not have the disorder. In one study, Yale researcher Mark Potenza showed images to thousands of test subjects, some of which involved positive and negative events, such as weddings and death. He found that while the brains of non-problem gamblers reacted to these images in the same way, those of problem and pathological gamblers spiked with a disproportionate response.
Although there is a strong relationship between impulse control disorders and gambling, the exact underlying mechanism is not well understood. It is thought that impulsiveness plays a role, but other factors are also at play, including sensation- and novelty-seeking, arousal, and negativity bias.
The DSM defines gambling as a disorder when the symptoms cause impairment in one or more domains of a person’s functioning and affect their quality of life. Depending on the underlying causes of the disorder, this can include damage or disruption, loss of control, and dependence. The latter includes tolerance (the need to wager increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired level of excitement), withdrawal (restlessness or irritability when trying to cut down or stop gambling), preoccupation with gambling, and gambling as a way to avoid or cope with problems.