Our country has a gambling problem.

More than 8% of adults are negatively impacted by gambling, on some level. And 1% of adults experience extreme gambling harm, meaning they’re gambling at very high risk.

And young people are being increasingly sucked into the world of gambling. About 90% of Australians aged 18-34 who regularly use pokie machines experience gambling-related harms. These include lost savings, severed relationships and other serious consequences.

Certain types of gambling – particularly pokies and online betting – are more harmful than others. And being exposed to these can readily lead to gambling addiction.

So what causes gambling addiction? And can it be treated?

Why is gambling so dangerous?

The list of gambling-related harms is long – and harrowing.

The most common form is financial. This can be as minor as having less spending money, or as serious as losing your life savings or the family home.

Gambling can also take an immense psychological toll. It can give rise to feelings of regret, guilt, shame and distress, and has been linked with mental illnesses including depression and anxiety. Veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder may start gambling as a way of self-medicating, but a gambling addiction won’t make any condition better. Research suggests gambling also increases suicide risk.

Relationship problems – such as separation and divorce – are another common consequence. That’s because gambling not only harms the person who gambles but also those closest to them, including spouses, parents, friends and even employers. However, families often shoulder the heaviest burden, as parental gambling is associated with higher rates of family violence, conflict between parents, child abuse and neglect.

Gambling also does broader social damage, with research suggesting crime rates rise as access to gambling increases.

Read more: Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem?

What does gambling addiction look like?

Gambling addiction refers to a condition in which a person feels compelled to gamble, even when it causes harm to them or others.

In some circles, “addiction” is a contested concept. Some see gambling problems as an individual failure of will, instead of a behavioural addiction. However, gambling addiction is clearly defined by internationally recognised diagnostic tools, including the American........

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