The Benefits and Costs of Gambling

Gambling is an activity that involves the wagering of money or other items of value. It is a common recreational activity and a global commercial enterprise, with the legal gambling market worth an estimated $335 billion in 2009.

Gambling has benefits and costs that are manifested at the personal/interpersonal, community/society, and economy/environment levels. These impacts include financial, labor, and health and well-being effects. The negative impacts of gambling at the individual level include losses, debts, and reduced work performance. It can also cause psychological and social problems. These negative effects may be long-term and can pass between generations.

At the community/societal level, positive economic impacts of gambling include increased revenue from gambling, tourism, and investments in casino construction and modernization, jobs, business opportunities for locals, and tax revenues. The social and environmental benefits of gambling include improved mental health, increased leisure activities, and increased social interactions for both gamblers and nongamblers.

The positive health and well-being of individuals can be attributed to the release of dopamine in brain areas similar to those activated by drug use. Moreover, the skill acquisition associated with gambling can improve an individual’s cognitive abilities and ability to make sound decisions.