Gambling is a common pastime, but it can cause harm. People can become addicted to gambling and may experience financial, emotional, familial and occupational problems as a result of their addiction. In severe cases, it can lead to depression and even suicide. Fortunately, there are many ways to help someone with a problem with gambling, including professional treatment and support. It is important to recognise the signs of gambling harm and to get help as soon as possible.

When you gamble, your brain releases dopamine, which makes you feel good. This can cause you to gamble more, even when you’re losing. This can lead to a vicious cycle, where you keep betting more and more money, and end up losing more and more money. This can be extremely dangerous, especially when it leads to debt. Getting help from a counsellor can help you stop gambling and break the cycle.

The rapid normalization of gambling is due to advertising and sponsorship, which can encourage a person to gamble. In addition, some governments receive substantial taxes from gambling activities. This can have a disincentive to reduce harm, as the benefits of gambling may take precedence over well-documented adverse effects on health and wellbeing. Prevention is the best way to minimize gambling-related harm. To do so, governments should ban gambling advertisements and provide universal pre-commitment systems that require people to set binding limits of time and money spent on gambling, and self-exclusion from gambling providers. Universal systems have better uptake and are more effective than voluntary ones.

Individual level costs are mostly invisible and include mental distress, a decrease in quality of life and social networks, and financial strain. Interpersonal and community/society levels of external costs are also largely invisible and include the effect of increased debt on family members, the cost to society of unpaid bills, and the loss of employment opportunities. These impacts can persist and escalate over time, and may pass from generation to generation.

Some people are tempted to gamble because of the money they could potentially win. However, it’s important to remember that the odds of winning are very low. For example, if you bet on a team to win a football match, your chances of winning are about 1 in 1,000. You’ll probably have to wait a while before you see the results of your bet.

Gambling can be a costly hobby, and can often leave you in more debt than when you started. Credit card debts can build up, and you might start to hide bills from your family or lie to your employer about your spending habits. Some people even resort to stealing to try and clear their debts, which can have devastating consequences. It’s important to find a different hobby, and to stop using gambling as an escape from worries or boredom. It’s also important to talk about your concerns with a trusted friend or family member, and seek support if needed. You can also speak to a NHS helpline for more information.