Gambling involves risking something of value on an event involving chance. The goal is to win a prize. Traditionally, gambling includes wagering on sporting events, such as football accumulators or horse and greyhound races, or on events, such as lottery draws, scratchcards and bingo. It can also include speculating on business, insurance or stock markets.
Gambling can cause problems for some people, affecting their health and relationships with family and friends, causing them to become insolvent or even homeless. Problem gambling can also affect people’s work or study performance and lead to depression and anxiety. People can get help for these problems by getting counselling or support from family and friends. There are also many organisations that provide help and advice for gambling-related problems.
The best way to prevent problems is to only gamble with disposable income and never use money that you need for bills or rent. It is also helpful to set a time limit for how long you want to spend gambling and leave when that time is up, whether you are winning or losing. It is also important to have other activities to do and to not gamble while you are depressed or upset.
You may have a lot of questions about gambling, particularly if you or someone you know has problems with it. This page aims to answer your common questions about what gambling is, how it works and the risks involved.
Using the menu on the left, you can find out more about different types of gambling and how they work. You can also read about the impact of problem gambling and how to get help. Alternatively, you can contact us if you have any further questions. We would be pleased to hear from you. We will respond to your query as quickly as possible.