Gambling involves risking something of value on an event that is determined at least in part by chance, with the intent to win something else of value. This includes betting on sports events, buying lottery or scratch tickets, playing bingo, and participating in office pools. In addition to the thrill of winning, gambling can also cause a number of negative impacts on society and individuals.
While many people gamble for entertainment, some become addicted to gambling and end up wasting money or even losing their own lives in the process. This is known as pathological gambling (PG) and is a serious mental health problem. PG can have devastating effects on the life of the person affected and their families, friends, and co-workers.
Those suffering from this disorder need help and can find it through a variety of programs. Outpatient & residential treatments, counseling, and addiction recovery services are all available to those struggling with this condition. However, it is important to recognize that overcoming this disorder can be a long and difficult journey. It is common to relapse and may take time for an individual to fully recover.
Some of the most common causes of a gambling disorder include impulsivity, lack of control, and depression. In addition, certain biological factors can contribute to the development of a gambling disorder. These factors include genetics, a brain reward system that is underactive, and a predisposition to thrill-seeking behaviors. Some people are also more likely to engage in gambling as a way to escape from stressful or painful situations.
Gambling is associated with a number of positive outcomes as well. Compared to nongamblers, people who engage in gambling often report higher levels of happiness and improved decision making skills. Studies have shown that gambling can increase a person’s self-concept and boost their sense of well being, especially among older adults.
Several challenges exist in the research of gambling impacts, such as how to measure them and what they are. The main challenge is measuring social impacts, which are largely non-monetary in nature and concern those who are not the gamblers themselves. These include the impact of increased debt and financial strain on family members, and the effect of escalating gambling activities on the community/society level.
Historically, most studies of gambling have focused on monetary costs and benefits, which are easy to calculate. This has led to a biased view of the negative effects of gambling. To overcome this limitation, researchers can utilize disability weights that measure the burden of a health state on quality of life to examine social impacts, as defined by Williams and others [32]. These measures can uncover gambling harms that are not captured by economic costing approaches. This approach could be used in conjunction with a public health framework to more comprehensively assess the impacts of gambling. This would be a step toward creating a common methodology to address the issue.
