Gambling is an unpredictable form of entertainment in which individuals bet money on an event that has an unpredictable result, such as the outcome of a football match or scratchcard draw. Unfortunately, gambling can quickly become addictive if practiced irresponsibly and lead to debt, strain on relationships, bankruptcy and even emotional turmoil. Some may not realise they have an addiction until it is too late, having fallen deeper into debt or divorced because of financial strain caused by their addiction; yet with professional help and the help from family and friends it is possible to overcome an addiction!
Gamblers are drawn to gambling for several reasons, including the desire for wins, excitement and social interaction. Furthermore, many gamblers seek an escape from worries, boredom or trouble through gambling; celebrating good times may become part of the habit for some while it also serves to manage emotions such as anxiety or depression; helping make better decisions is another purpose gambling serves for many people.
Researchers utilize different approaches when it comes to analyzing the costs and benefits of gambling, with economists employing economic cost-benefit analyses (CBA), similar to what has been used for alcohol and drug consumption studies, public health approaches that include both costs and benefits, or looking at impacts at individual, interpersonal and community/societal levels; which might include effects such as increased debt burden on families or communities as a whole.
Cost-benefit analysis measures both the negative and positive impacts of gambling. These effects can be divided into three classes: financial, labor and health and well-being impacts. Financial effects include economic gains for gambling industry players such as economic gains from tourism or changes to infrastructure costs or values; labor impacts include changes to work performance or absenteeism rates or job loss; while health and well-being effects involve non-monetary aspects that impact an individual’s mental, physical or social wellbeing.
First step to overcome gambling addiction: Realize and seek professional assistance. Though admitting your addiction may be difficult, remember it’s not your fault – many others have been there and experienced the same struggles.
Those suffering from gambling issues should reach out to BetterHelp for assistance. Our online assessment will connect you with an accredited therapist who can assist in breaking free of your addiction and back on the right track. Your recovery journey could begin in as little as 48 hours! Register now and begin making strides toward living a healthier, more stable life; one step to that end would be taking charge of finances/credit and eliminating debt; we can help!