Public Health Impacts of Gambling
Gambling is an activity in which you put something at risk to win something of value, such as money, goods or services. It is a social activity, and many people gamble as part of groups, such as friends or family. Some people are able to control their gambling, but others find it hard to stop and can have harmful effects on themselves and other people. These can include problems with relationships, work and health and well-being.
Gamblers have a variety of motivations for gambling, from gaining social contact to escaping from problems. The social aspect of gambling is important because it can help us learn about ourselves and develop positive social interactions, but the danger of gambling lies in the ability to lose too much money. This can result in a financial crisis, which affects the gambler and those around them. There are also negative effects on communities, such as the loss of local businesses or the increase in debt and poverty in the community.
Most studies of gambling impacts have focused on monetary costs and benefits, which are relatively easy to quantify. In contrast, social impacts are not as easily measured and tend to be ignored in calculations. This article proposes a framework for examining social impacts from gambling, using a public health approach.
The framework includes three classes of impacts: financial, labor and health/well-being. Financial impacts can be at the individual and societal level, while labor impacts can include changes in productivity, absenteeism, reduced performance and unemployment. Health/well-being impacts can affect physical and mental health, including a loss of self-esteem and a reduction in the enjoyment of life.
Problematic gambling has been linked to a number of factors, including genetic predisposition (e.g., underactive brain reward systems), boredom susceptibility, impulsivity, use of escape coping and stressful life experiences. People with these predispositions are more likely to become addicted to gambling, which they often use as a way to profit or escape from their problems.
A person may have a gambling problem if they:
They lie to family members, therapists or others to conceal the extent of their involvement with gambling.
Gambling is an activity in which you put something at risk to win something of value, such as money, goods or services. It is a social activity, and many people gamble as part of groups, such as friends or family. Some people are able to control their gambling, but others find it hard to stop…