Many people enjoy gambling once in a while.
However, the difference between social gambling and pathological gambling is like the difference between social drinking and alcoholism. Like alcoholism, excessive gambling can ruin the life of the gambler as well as the lives of the gambler's family. People who become pathological gamblers are often highly competitive, energetic, easily bored people. They may be very dependent on the approval of other people. As a result, they may be very generous.