The Effects of Gambling
Gambling is a recreational activity in which people risk money or something of value by making predictions about an event with some element of chance. It can include card games, fruit machines, scratchcards, betting on football accumulators or other events, and speculating on business, insurance or stock market trends. It can also involve playing games of skill like blackjack or poker. Some gamble responsibly, while others lose control and go into debt or become addicted to gambling. It is a problem that affects individuals, families and whole communities.
While the media portrays gambling as glamorous and fun, there are many reasons why a person may start to gamble. It can be for social reasons, for the thrill of winning money, or to relieve boredom or stress. In addition, gambling can be a way to escape from reality and be surrounded by different sights, sounds and smells. Some gamblers use it as a coping mechanism, for example when they are unhappy at work, grieving, or feeling depressed.
The first step in gambling is to decide what you want to bet on, whether it be a football team or a scratchcard. This is then matched to ‘odds’, which are the chances of winning. This isn’t a guarantee that you will win, but it shows how much money you could make. People are more sensitive to losses than gains of the same value, and this can lead them to invest time and energy trying to ‘win back’ their losses, or alleviate feelings of disappointment and frustration.
A lot of negative effects can be attributed to gambling, such as increased debts, family break ups, poor health and loss of employment. However, positive impacts can also be seen – such as increased tourism, increased taxes, jobs created, and improved infrastructure. Gambling can also be used as a form of social welfare, and there are charities that support the vulnerable through gambling.
It is important to remember that there are other ways to relieve boredom or stress, such as exercise, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, or meditation. Gambling can be addictive, and it is important to seek help if you think you or someone you know has a gambling problem.
The negative effects of gambling can be viewed on three levels: personal, interpersonal and societal/community (Fig. 1). Personal impacts impact gamblers themselves, while interpersonal and societal/community impacts are impacts that affect those who are not gamblers. For instance, a gambler’s increased debt affects their family members and their work colleagues. These effects can escalate and cause problems for wider society. Moreover, people with gambling problems can develop other mental and physical disorders, such as depression and anxiety. This can then affect their children as well. Those with these problems often have a low quality of life, which can be measured using measures called disability weights. These can be used to discover a person’s overall quality of life and the costs associated with their condition.