Gambling is an activity that involves putting money or material goods at risk for a reward, often with an element of chance. It can include betting on sporting events (such as football matches and horse races), lottery-style games and online gambling.

Gamblers are often driven by a desire to win or get back what they have lost. It is important for people to understand the risks of gambling and to seek professional help if they are concerned that their gambling is becoming a problem.

The act of gambling is associated with a number of harms, including financial stress, family breakdown, mental illness and suicide. These can continue to affect people throughout their lives and may even be transmitted across generations. These problems can be avoided or reduced with population-wide interventions, such as banning advertising and promotions, centralized account registration to require those who gamble to set binding loss limits and restrictions on the availability of gambling establishments and their open hours.

When people gamble, they are exposed to a constant flow of highs and lows. The ‘highs’ feel good because they release a chemical in the brain, but the ‘lows’ can be devastating as they lead to further losses and debt.

It is often a combination of personal circumstances, environment and genetics that make someone susceptible to developing a gambling problem. Some of the main risk factors include having a family history of gambling addiction and being young when first exposed to gambling activities.