Gambling is an activity where people place something of value (usually money) at risk on an event that involves chance and offers a potential for profit. It includes games such as betting, fruit machines, lottery tickets, scratchcards, card games and casino gambling. It excludes activities such as playing sports, horse racing and dice games where skill is a key element in the outcome. In addition to the desire for money, gambling also involves a sense of competition and thrill-seeking.

It is not clear how a person becomes addicted to gambling but it has been suggested that certain genetic predispositions and brain circuitry may be linked with an individual’s tendency to engage in risk-taking behaviours and lack impulse control. Other factors that can contribute to a person developing a gambling problem include the way they respond to rewards, their level of self-control and whether they have other co-occurring mental health problems.

People who develop a problem with gambling may be able to recognise that they have a gambling issue, but are unable to change their behaviour. They often experience feelings of guilt, anxiety and depression as a result of their involvement with gambling. Other symptoms include lying to family members and therapists about the extent of their gambling, or trying to get back their money after losing it. Some people even go as far as to steal money from their families or employers in order to fund their addiction to gambling.

Problem gamblers can be a source of stress for those around them, leading to strained relationships and increased levels of stress in their lives. It is also believed that gambling can lead to a greater risk of suicide among those with mental illness.

There is no doubt that the gambling industry is a huge business, generating a vast income from those who gamble and lose money. Despite this, mainstream Christian belief has always viewed gambling as incompatible with the Bible’s teaching. It glorifies luck and denies God’s sovereignty. It is not surprising that it is opposed by writers such as Tertullian, Hugh Latimer, John Wesley and William Wilberforce.

While some gambling activities, such as poker, bridge and spades, are played in private settings among friends, the most common form of gambling takes place in commercial establishments. These are staffed by employees from dealers to odds compilers and marketers. These businesses need to turn a profit in order to pay their staff and cover expenses. As a result, they need a large customer base to keep their doors open. This is especially true for sports events like horse races and lotteries, which have a high customer turnover. Moreover, these events are advertised heavily to encourage customer loyalty. This creates a strong incentive for some customers to return and increase their bets. This is referred to as “chasing losses” and is a feature of many problem gambling patterns. In addition, the high doses of dopamine released by winning can also encourage some to return and increase their bets.