Gambling involves risking money or something of value on an outcome involving chance, such as on the results of a lottery, casino game or sports event. People gamble for fun, to socialise or escape worries or stress, and for the adrenaline rush of winning. But for some, gambling can be an addiction. If you are worried that you or someone you know is gambling too much, you can seek help. There are lots of options available, including treatment and support groups.
This article aims to provide an overview of the positive and negative impacts of gambling on individuals, their significant others, communities and society at large. It also offers a framework for comparing the health and social costs and benefits of various gambling policies, and highlights some key methodological challenges.
In general, research on the impacts of gambling has focused mainly on economic effects such as increased debt and financial strain. It has tended to ignore social costs and benefits – largely because these are difficult to measure, compared with the easily quantifiable economic costs and benefits.
Nevertheless, research indicates that some social impacts of gambling are considerable. Gambling is linked to poor mental health and has been associated with suicidal thoughts. It is also linked to increased rates of substance abuse, particularly alcohol and drugs, which in turn increase the likelihood of gambling problems. Moreover, gambling is often accessed in areas of greater disadvantage, making it more likely to be harmful.
The impact of gambling can be split into three classes: costs and benefits; risks and harms; and opportunities. These are then grouped into personal, interpersonal and community/societal levels. Those at the personal level cause effects on gamblers; those at the interpersonal level affect other people who have relationships with gamblers; and those at the societal/community level are those who don’t have a relationship with a gambler but who may be affected by them e.g. the effects of escalating debt that can lead to bankruptcy and homelessness in the community.
Gambling can bring many benefits to a community, especially for those in less well-off circumstances. It can help them to socialise and enjoy themselves in a different way, and it can help boost the economy by encouraging people to spend their leisure time on other activities instead of on illegal activities such as drug dealing or prostitution. The money spent on gambling can help local businesses and boost tax revenues, which in turn can benefit the entire community. This is why some countries are introducing measures to encourage more responsible gambling. This will include limiting advertising, requiring mandatory self-exclusion from high-risk games and making it easier for people to quit gambling. However, some people will still gamble, whether they’re a regular at the local bookmakers or online. To reduce the negative impact, people should consider taking up hobbies or find other ways to relax. They should also try to avoid spending money they don’t have, and limit their gambling to within their budgets.