Gambling is the act of placing a bet on something in order to win money. It could be a bet on a football team to win a match, or a scratchcard that will give you the chance to win anything from a small prize to a life-changing jackpot. It is a form of entertainment that can provide an adrenaline rush, but it is not always as lucky as it looks on TV.
Some people develop a gambling problem because of the excitement of winning or the dream of becoming rich. Others find it a way to escape their problems or stresses. Problem gamblers can be young or old, from any income level or education, or come from any country. But if you have a gambling addiction, it can have serious consequences for your family and work life.
It’s important to be aware of the impact of gambling and seek help if you think you have a problem. There are different ways to treat a gambling addiction, but it’s important that you speak to someone you trust. There are also a number of things you can do to reduce the chances of becoming a problem gambler, including avoiding high-risk situations, such as using credit cards or carrying large amounts of cash with you, and trying not to gamble as a way of socialising.
The psychological effects of gambling can include feeling depressed, anxiety or irritable when losing. This can lead to impulsive or risk-taking behaviours, which can have long-term impacts on relationships, work and health. Some studies have also suggested that there are biological factors, such as an underactive brain reward system, which can make some people more vulnerable to gambling.
Gambling impacts can be observed at the personal, interpersonal and community/society levels (Fig 1). Personal impacts refer to gamblers, and can include harms such as increased stress, anxiety and depression; reduced self-esteem and a decrease in the quality of life. Interpersonal impacts can affect those closest to gamblers, such as family and friends; and community/society impacts can include economic losses and benefits, such as local charities benefiting from gambling revenues.
Many studies focus on the negative effects of gambling, but little is known about positive impacts. This can be partly because of the difficulty of quantifying the benefits of gambling. One approach is to use a health-related quality of life measure, called disability weights, which measures the per-person burden of a condition on someone’s quality of life. These weights can be applied to gambling data to reveal social impacts, such as the cost of the illness. However, the approach can be biased as it only considers costs, rather than benefits, and ignores the fact that some costs can be non-monetary. Further research into the effects of gambling is needed to uncover the positive benefits that can be generated in communities. This includes the potential for gambling to be used as a source of funding for public services, such as healthcare and housing.