How to Reduce the Harmful Effects of Gambling
Gambling is wagering something of value on an event with an uncertain outcome. This can be money, goods or services. It requires three elements: consideration, risk and a prize. The most common gambling activities involve the use of a deck of cards, dice, a horse race or a slot machine. While some people do gamble to win money, others do it for entertainment, fun or to socialise. However, for some, gambling can become an addiction and cause serious harm. Symptoms of an addictive gambling habit include spending more and more time on the activity, losing control over finances and ruining personal relationships.
Identifying the signs of gambling disorder is not easy, especially if the problem has been present for a long time. If you suspect that you have a gambling problem, the first step is to talk about it with someone. This could be a friend or family member, or a professional counsellor. Another option is to join a peer support group. These groups, such as Gamblers Anonymous, are modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous and can help you find ways to stop gambling.
The best way to prevent harmful gambling is to make a decision not to gamble. Getting out of the habit will require tremendous strength and courage, especially if you have lost a lot of money and strained or even broken some relationships along the way. But remember that it’s not just you: many other people have dealt with the same issue and were able to break the habit and rebuild their lives.
Most gambling studies focus on the negative impacts of gambling, with few considering positive effects. This is a common methodological approach, but it can obscure the true extent of the damage. Positive impacts of gambling are not just intangible, but they can also be hidden by the monetary costing methodologies employed. For example, the impact on a person’s quality of life may not be readily apparent when evaluating a health state using disability weights.
A better way to assess the effects of gambling is through longitudinal research, which allows for an understanding of a person’s long-term risk and response to gambling. However, this type of study is difficult to conduct because of the huge funding required over a lengthy period and issues with sample attrition and aging effects.
There are a few things you can do to reduce the harmful effects of gambling, including talking about your gambling habits with somebody who won’t judge you, and controlling your money. For instance, never gamble with money that you need to save or spend on bills and rent. If you have trouble keeping track of your spending, consider installing a finance app on your phone. Alternatively, you can use an online budgeting website to keep track of your finances. Lastly, try to fill the gap that gambling has left in your life with new and healthy hobbies and activities.