Anyone who gambles has had to put up with accusations at one point or another from overly concerned friends, family, or colleagues. “Gambling is an addiction,” they say. “Gambling is bad for you. Don’t do it.”
There are people who gamble irresponsibly and who seem to lose all control over their behaviour. These people do behave like addicts, and it is understandable that many people seem to perceive gambling in much the same light as a controlled substance. But is “gambling addiction” really an addiction?