Gambling is a recreational activity that involves betting on the outcome of an event or game. It can be done in a variety of ways, including playing cards, visiting casinos, placing a bet on the result of a sports event or horse race, and betting over the internet or on the telephone. Gambling is a widespread pastime in the United States and many countries around the world. Most people who gamble do so responsibly and without problems, but a small group of individuals develop serious gambling disorders that can cause negative personal, family, work, and financial impacts.
The social impacts of gambling can be analyzed using a conceptual model that distinguishes between costs and benefits. The costs and benefits are categorized into three classes: financial, labor and health, and well-being. These classes manifest at the personal, interpersonal, and societal/community levels (Fig. 1).
Most of the costs associated with gambling are non-monetary. These costs are invisible and can be difficult to quantify, so they are often ignored in calculations. However, they are equally important as the monetary costs, and may even be more severe for some gamblers. For example, an individual with a gambling addiction may lose significant amounts of money that affect his or her daily life. This loss can cause stress, depression, and relationship difficulties. Moreover, an individual with a gambling disorder is more likely to experience a crisis situation in his or her daily life, such as a financial setback, a job loss, or the death of a loved one.
Some of the benefits of gambling include tourism and the increased economic activity that is generated by casinos. This can help to reduce unemployment rates and increase economic development in a particular area. In addition, gambling is common among societal idlers and occupies them, which can reduce criminal activities like burglaries, robberies, drug peddling and prostitution.
For some individuals, gambling provides a way to socialize with friends and co-workers, which can be beneficial in reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation. Moreover, the media portrays gambling as fun, sexy, and glamorous, and this can be appealing to some people. Finally, for some, gambling is a way to relieve boredom or unpleasant emotions such as anxiety, stress, grief, and sadness.
A number of studies have attempted to quantify the social impact of gambling, but there are many challenges involved in this endeavor. First, there is a lack of consensus on the best methodological and theoretical approaches to measuring the social impact of gambling. For instance, researchers, psychiatrists and other treatment care clinicians, and public policy makers tend to frame questions about gambling in different ways, depending on their disciplinary training and world view. In addition, there are a wide range of opinions about the causes of gambling, ranging from recreation to mental illness, impaired judgment, and moral turpitude. A clearer understanding of the social impact of gambling can help to guide future research and policies.