2 Examples of pathological gambling include: Individuals who engage in pathological gambling are also at increased risk of suicide.

Pathological gambling: where players are experiencing difficulties in controlling the urge to gamble despite the harms it causes. These are players that often bet with money they cannot afford to lose, overspend on their credit cards, and borrow money in order to gamble. Harmful involvement with gambling indicates problem gambling behaviours. Harmful involvement: these are players that are experiencing difficulties in their personal, work and social relationships as a result of their participation in gambling activities. Serious social gambling: play is taking place regularly and is an important leisure activity in players’ lives, however it does not come before work, loved ones, and social relationships. For some, the challenges with gambling may occur suddenly whereas for others, over many years of use. 1 People who experience problems with gambling are found in all age groups, across all income groups and social strata, across all genders and race. Gambling becomes a problem when it is done excessively and negatively affects a person’s daily activities, school or work performance, mental health, physical health, interpersonal relationships, and finances. Gambling is a leisure activity that may occur over a continuum, ranging from casual social gambling, with no harm caused, to pathological gambling, with serious harmful consequences for the individual gambling and their loved ones.

Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health.

Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee Secretariat.

Mental Health and Addictions Legislation.

Ontario Youth Suicide Prevention Life Promotion Collaborative.

Addiction and Substance use Treatment Options.

Reducing cannabis harms: A guide for Ontario campuses.Factors that Impact Addiction and Problematic substance use.

What does life's a gamble mean