Whether it’s placing a bet on a football team or buying a lottery ticket, gambling involves risking something of value on an event that is determined at least in part by chance. The premise is that you will ‘win’ and receive something of greater value. There are many forms of gambling, including betting on sports events, purchasing lottery or scratch tickets, or even betting on office pools.

There is also’simulated’ gambling, which can occur in social media games such as Farmville and Words with Friends. These games use virtual items called’skins’ to represent game assets, with values based on rarity. Players can purchase rare skins in-game or win them in loot boxes. ‘Skin Gambling’ is often promoted by gaming influencers and can lead to large financial losses.

A person with a gambling addiction may find that it interferes with work, family and social life. In addition, they may have difficulty sleeping and have an irrational fear of losing money. It is important to seek treatment if you are having a problem with gambling.

Seek help from a counsellor who specialises in gambling addiction. They can help you with the specific problems caused by your addiction and provide you with support and strategies to overcome it. You may also benefit from group therapy such as Gamblers Anonymous, a 12-step recovery program based on Alcoholics Anonymous. This can help you to build a supportive network and develop healthier coping skills. For severe cases, residential or inpatient programs may be necessary.