Gambling involves risking something of value, usually money, on a random event with the aim of winning something else of value. It’s a form of entertainment that can involve skill (eg, using strategy to improve your odds in a game of poker or predicting the outcome of a horse race). But gambling also involves luck and chance. For example, if you roll a dice or spin a roulette wheel, the result is completely unpredictable.

Young people can be more vulnerable to a gambling disorder than adults. This may be because they are going through a range of biological and emotional changes that can impact self-esteem. They may also be seeking peer approval and use gambling as a way to distract themselves from difficult emotions. They are also less likely to have learned other healthy ways of coping.

People with a gambling disorder can have trouble with relationships and work. They may lie to family and friends about their spending or become angry or hostile when they are confronted. They can also struggle with financial stress and depression. They can even contemplate suicide.

If you’re worried about someone else’s gambling habits, try talking to them in a non-confrontational way. Encourage them to seek help from a health professional or peer support group such as Gamblers Anonymous. If you lend money to a person with a gambling problem, make sure it is repaid as quickly as possible. Encourage them to find other hobbies and social activities that will fill the gap that gambling used to fill in their life.