Gambling involves placing something of value on a random event with the intent to win a prize. It includes betting on sports events, playing casino games and card games such as poker or blackjack, and using lottery tickets and scratchcards. It can also include online and video games with the potential for winning money. While most people gamble for enjoyment, some become too serious about it and experience adverse personal, family, work, and community consequences. Problem gambling is a treatable mental disorder, and is recognised in the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association.
The costs and benefits of gambling are complex. In general, the activities associated with gambling are not one-man shows and require a lot of staff to run them successfully, from dealers and odds compilers to marketers and public relations staff. The majority of these jobs are in casinos and other gambling venues, and people working in these areas are often concerned that their colleagues are thinking about or actively engaging in gambling.
A number of different factors may contribute to the development of a gambling problem, including a person’s biological predisposition to thrill-seeking behaviour and impulsivity. Studies have also shown that some people have an underactive reward system in certain parts of the brain, which can affect how they process rewards and control their impulses.
Another contributing factor is the culture in which a person lives. Some cultures place a greater emphasis on gambling than others, and this can make it harder to recognise that gambling is a problem. People who live in communities that consider gambling a normal pastime can find it difficult to understand why someone would struggle with addiction and may be quick to criticise their actions.
While it is important to consider the negative aspects of gambling, it is also important to acknowledge the positive effects that can occur. Research has shown that the use of gambling venues creates employment opportunities and economic activity in the community. It is also been found that some people enjoy the social settings and atmosphere of casinos, and that they can benefit from the social interaction and stimulation that this provides.
There are also a range of psychological, health and wellbeing impacts that can be attributed to gambling. These include feelings of anxiety, depression and stress, as well as the risk of suicide. These impacts can be long-term and have a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life.
Developing a method to assess the economic costs of gambling is challenging. In order to measure a broad range of impacts, it is necessary to take a public health approach that considers all types of gambling. When economic costing studies focus only on problematic gambling, only the tip of the iceberg is observed, and this can lead to underestimated estimates of harms and costs to society. It is also essential to incorporate a health-related quality of life weights, known as disability weights, into assessments of gambling.
