Gambling is an activity that involves putting money on a certain outcome. If the odds are great enough, you could end up winning a lot of money, which is where the temptation to gamble comes in. People bet on nearly everything, including horse racing, footie results, reality TV winners and next year's headliner at Glastonbury, plus there are scratch cards, bingo cards and the National Lottery every week. This can all be a bit of harmless fun, plus the chance to make a few bob but, as they say, too much of anything can make you an addict.

Why do people gamble?

In small doses, gambling can be incredibly fun. Putting a few quid on who's going to win your fantasy football league simply adds a greater depth of enjoyment to the pastime, plus it encourages a greater level of competitiveness. Heart rate and blood pressure increases and players get an adrenalin rush when gambling, which can give the player such a thrill, they may be unable to walk away.

Why is it so easy to become addicted?

Unlike other addictive substances, such as drugs and tobacco, gambling is positively publicised everywhere. Adverts on television, in cinemas and on billboards all encourage gambling, without mentioning any of the negative points. The National Lottery is heavily promoted by the BBC, you can buy scratch cards and instant lottery cards from the age of 16, plus there are thousands of websites dedicated to online poker or bingo. With so many people desperate for money nowadays, because of redundancies and higher living costs, gambling can be seen as an escape or a solution, especially if the addict believes the odds are in their favour.

Surely people win sometimes? Isn't that a good thing?

"If you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick." Basically, if you do gamble enough, you're guaranteed to win at some time. However, in some cases the odds are so small that you could play every day for a lifetime and never win. For example:

• Winning £5 on a fruit machine - 600 to 1
• Winning £50 on a scratch card - 2000 to 1
• Winning a GMTV competition - 300,000 to 1
• Winning the National Lottery jackpot - 13 million to 1

The addiction itself comes from the constant impulse to win. Although the gambler may win small amounts of money here and there, the price of admission far outweighs the benefits on a larger scale. Remember, as they say in Las Vegas, the world's most famous gambling hotspot, "the house always wins".

If it's just a bit of fun, why is gambling addiction such a bad thing?

Constant gambling can be financially disastrous for the player, especially if luck isn't on their side. The amount of money spent on fruit machines, blackjack, scratch cards, itboxes and lottery tickets can quickly add up. Unless you're hitting it big every now then (which is unlikely) the constant need to play can lead to bankruptcy. The addiction can also lead to the neglect of other important aspects, including family, friends, school, work, personality and personal hygiene. Gambling addiction also causes a huge amount of stress and anxiety which can then lead to depression.

I like to gamble every now and then… am I addicted?

If you play the Lottery every so often or put a fiver on who's going to win Big Brother this year, the chances are that you're not addicted. However, if you believe that you have got a problem, check against the common symptoms to make sure:

• Have you ever not gone to school/college/work because of gambling?
• Is gambling your favourite interest/pastime?
• Do you find yourself spending more and more money on gambling?
• Do you often boast about your winnings and lie about losing?
• Do you feel as though you need to keep playing after a loss?
• Does the phrase, "I can stop whenever I want, I just don't want to" sound familiar?
• Do you turn to gambling whenever you feel low or bored?
• Have you experienced mood swings or anxiety?
• Do you act defensively whenever somebody questions you about gambling?

If you answered 'yes' to a few of these questions, you may in fact have a gambling problem. It's important that you distance yourself away from any gambling temptation and seek professional help. Confide in your closest friends and family as they will be happy to help and support you. The same applies to anybody who you believe may be addicted to gambling. If you or somebody you know has racked up quite a bit of debt, have a look at our article on Managing Debt.