Gambling is the act of risking money or something else of value on a random event with the intention of winning a prize. It can involve predicting the outcome of games of chance, such as in casino gaming, betting with friends, and scratchcards. While some people enjoy gambling as a form of entertainment, it can also cause problems for the gambler and those close to them, including health issues, debt and even homelessness. Governments regulate and tax gambling to minimize its negative effects, but this often encourages gambling tourism and illegal gambling in other jurisdictions.
The motivations for gambling vary among individuals, but can include the desire to win money, social interaction with others and the escape from everyday life and boredom. Problem gamblers may experience depression, loss of control, or other emotional difficulties, which can be used as an excuse to gamble. They can also be influenced by advertising that portrays gambling as glamorous, sexy and fun.
In addition to the pleasure and excitement of gambling, there is a sense of achievement when you have made a winning bet. This is a key driver of gambling behaviour, and has led to many individuals becoming addicted to the activity. However, it is important to remember that you can lose as much as you gain. It is therefore crucial to start with a fixed amount of money that you are willing to lose, and only play with money that you can afford to do so.
Depending on the type of game, different types of impact can occur. These can be at personal, interpersonal or community/societal levels (Fig 1). Personal and interpersonal impacts are mostly non-monetary and can affect the gamblers themselves. These can include effects on relationships, work performance and mental health. Community/societal level external impacts are mostly monetary and can include general costs, costs related to problem gambling and long-term cost.
Research on the economic costs of gambling has often focused on the financial losses incurred by individuals and households. However, these studies overlook the social impacts of gambling that may be just as important. Social impacts are a complex concept, and researchers have proposed different definitions of what constitutes a social impact. For example, Williams et al. [32] propose that social impact should incorporate harms and benefits to all members of society.
This is because they affect the overall well-being of the community. These may be economic, labor and health, or quality of life and well-being. The terminology is also important because research scientists, psychiatrists and other treatment care clinicians and public policy makers frame questions about gambling differently, based on their disciplinary training, experience, and world view. This can lead to disagreements over what terms to use to describe these diverse impacts. It is necessary to develop agreed-upon nomenclature so that all stakeholders can communicate effectively.