Description: Psychoactive dependences, like addiction to various forms of activity, are the focus of theoretical and research interest of many branches of science. Although Polish legislation defines dependences specifically with regard to psychoactive substances, addiction can also be an acquired, extremely powerful need to engage in certain behaviours. Hence the tendency in the literature to call many addictive or habitual forms of human activity dependences. Gambling is one of them. There are several categories of gambling: recreational gambling, problem gambling and a form which merits particular attention, pathological gambling. Like most diseases and dysfunctions, pathological gambling is defined according to diagnostic criteria. Gambling dependence is the overwhelming, irresistible urge to gamble, heedless of the adverse effects. Addictive gambling is symptomatic of emotional disorder. Despite the lack of a unified theory explaining its origin, several determinants have been indicated, both environmental factors and inherent dispositions. The major effects of gambling addiction include family breakdown, job loss, alcohol or other substance dependence, depression or even suicide. Gambling addiction raises many questions: Why do some people succumb to it so easily whereas others show no interest in gambling? Are people who won high stakes in early gambles more likely to become addicted? Is the gamblerТs lifestyle related to later addiction in any way? These and other questions have stimulated the development of research on pathological gambling. Whatever the causes, however, gambling dependence is a serious disease and needs to be treated