What is Gambling? - BeGambleAware®

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What about ‘average return to player'? When you gamble, are you playing a skill based game or is it all down to chance – and does it matter? What are your real chances of winning? Can you separate fact from fiction amongst the many myths surrounding gambling? Before you decide to gamble it is a good idea to know how gambling works so there are no hidden surprises.</p> <h3>What is gambling?</h3> <p>Gambling is taking part in a game during which you risk money, or something of monetary value, in order to win money or a prize. The outcome of the game is usually down to chance, so when gambling you might leave with less money than you started off with, and sometimes with nothing at all.</p> <p>There are many forms of gambling, including lotteries and scratchcards, card games like poker and blackjack, betting on sports or events, playing casino games, gambling machines or bingo. Many people enjoy gambling, whether having a flutter on the Grand National or buying the odd scratchcard, or taking part in gambling on a more regular basis. Gambling is not a bad thing, but it can be risky, so we need to keep ourselves informed and make safer choices.</p> </div> <div class="f-width-medium-4-10 f-width-xlarge-3-10"> <div class="related"> <h2>In this section</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/understanding-gambling/gambling-words-and-phrases-explained/">Gambling words and phrases explained</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/understanding-gambling/gambling-participation-in-britain/">Gambling participation in Britain</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/understanding-gambling/how-is-gambling-regulated/">How is gambling regulated?</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="content"> <div class="f-container f-container-center"> <div class="search-area"> <div class="inner f-clearfix"> <form action="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/search-results" method="get"> <label for="search" class="f-hidden">Ask us anything</label> <input type="text" id="search" value="Ask us anything" name="searchterm"> <button><span>Go</span></button> </form> </div> </div> <div class="f-clearfix"> <p class="helpline alt"> For help, support and advice about problem gambling please contact the National Gambling Helpline on <b><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171207091219/tel:+448088020133">0808 8020 133</a></b> or via the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171207091219/http://www.gamcare.org.uk/support-and-counselling/frontline-services/netline" target="_blank">NetLine.</a> </p> <ul class="social-icons f-clearfix"> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171207091219/https://www.facebook.com/BeGambleAware/"><i class="socicon socicon-facebook"></i><span>Facebook</span></a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171207091219/https://twitter.com/begambleaware"><i class="socicon socicon-twitter"></i><span>Twitter</span></a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171207091219/https://www.linkedin.com/company/responsible-gambling-trust"><i class="socicon socicon-linkedin"></i><span>LinkedIn</span></a></li> </ul> </div> <p class="address"> GambleAware® c/o Responsible Gambling Trust, 7 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8PS <br> Registered in England No 4384279 Charity No 1093910 </p> </div> </section> <footer> <div class="f-container f-container-center"> <img src="/web/20171207091219im_/https://www.begambleaware.org/assets/images/logo.png" alt="be gamble aware logo" class="logo"> <ul> <li>Copyright 2017 - BeGambleAware®</li> <li><a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/contact-us/">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/terms-conditions/">Terms & Conditions</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/cookie-policy/">Cookie Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171207091219/http://www.fatmedia.co.uk/" target=""_blank"">Site by Fat Media</a></li> </ul> </div> </footer>  <div id="test-offcanvas" class="f-offcanvas"> <div class="f-offcanvas-bar f-offcanvas-bar-flip"> <ul class="f-nav f-nav-offcanvas f-nav-parent-icon" data-f-nav="{ multiple : true }"> <li class=""> <a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/">Home</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/gambling-problems/">Gambling Problems</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/confidential-help/">Confidential Help</a> </li> <li class="f-active"> <a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/understanding-gambling/">Understanding Gambling</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/stay-in-control/">Stay in Control</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/web/20171207091219/https://www.begambleaware.org/about-us/">About Us</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20171207091219js_/https://ajax.aspnetcdn.com/ajax/jquery.validate/1.13.1/jquery.validate.min.js"></script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20171207091219js_/https://ajax.aspnetcdn.com/ajax/mvc/5.1/jquery.validate.unobtrusive.min.js"></script> <script src="/web/20171207091219js_/https://www.begambleaware.org/assets/scripts/min/fatkit.min.js"></script> <script src="/web/20171207091219js_/https://www.begambleaware.org/DependencyHandler.axd?s=L2Fzc2V0cy9zY3JpcHRzL2FwcC9lbnF1aXJ5Zm9ybS5qczsvYXNzZXRzL3NjcmlwdHMvYXBwL2pxdWVyeXBsdWdpbnMuanM7L2Fzc2V0cy9zY3JpcHRzL2FwcC9zdWJzY3JpcHRpb25mb3JtLmpzOy9hc3NldHMvc2NyaXB0cy9hcHAvdWFldmVudHRyYWNraW5nLmpzOw&t=Javascript&cdv=1823006643" type="text/javascript"></script> </body> </html>

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What is Gambling? - BeGambleAware® | BeGambleAware