Gambling involves wagering something of value on a random event that has an uncertain outcome. This can include placing a bet on the outcome of a sports game, horse race, or a lottery. It is a popular activity in many countries. It can be a source of enjoyment and entertainment for some people, but for others it can cause problems that impact their physical and mental health, relationships, performance at work or study and leave them in serious debt and even homeless. Problem gambling can also have a negative effect on the local community. This includes reducing the amount of money available for local services, such as schools and community organisations, through competition with charitable gambling revenue.
People gamble for a variety of reasons, from the excitement and anticipation of a potential win to escaping reality or social isolation. Some people are genetically predisposed to thrill-seeking behaviours or impulsivity and therefore can be more vulnerable to developing gambling problems. This may be due to a brain reward system that is underactive or an inability to control impulses. Other factors that can contribute to gambling problems are the environment, the social and cultural norms of a society, and the availability of gambling opportunities.
Despite the risks and costs, gambling continues to be widely available. Unlike most other activities, which are usually limited in locations and times, gambling is accessible at anytime from anywhere through the internet and mobile devices. The growth of online casinos and betting apps has increased the accessibility and popularity of gambling. This has resulted in more people becoming addicted to gambling and has also made it more difficult to recognize that there is a problem.
While there are many harmful effects associated with gambling, it is important to remember that it can also have positive impacts, particularly for people who are not gambling in a problematic way. In general, studies that focus solely on the harms of gambling miss a crucial part of the picture as these only consider the direct cost to the gambler and do not factor in the benefits that they receive from the activity. However, when a public health approach is taken to gambling, positive impacts can be identified using disability weights (DW) which are used to measure the intangible burden of a health state on quality of life [32].
The impact of gambling can vary on a personal level, at an interpersonal level, and at a community/society level. Gambling can cause costs and benefits to the individual, such as financial and labor impacts, and these often affect other people, including family members and co-workers. These impacts can have long-term implications, and can change the life course of a person and even pass between generations.
