Gambling and Its Impact on Society

Gambling is any activity where a person stakes something of value on an event that has the potential to yield a prize. It involves taking risks and can be done anywhere: casinos, racetracks, sports events, on the internet, etc. Often, people gamble for social reasons (to join in with a group of friends, to feel the excitement or rush of winning) or for financial ones (to win a jackpot and change their life).

When gambling becomes problematic, it can cause harms on personal, interpersonal and community/society levels. These can include impacts on the health and well-being of the gamblers themselves, their family, friends and colleagues. It can also affect the performance at work, school and study and leave them in serious debt or even homeless. In extreme cases, it can lead to self-harm or suicide.

The key to overcoming gambling problems is to build a strong support network and find healthy ways of spending time. This can be through getting more exercise, joining a book club or sports team, or by finding an online peer support group such as Gamblers Anonymous. It can also be helpful to talk to a professional, such as a GP or NHS support service.

While much research has been conducted to understand the costs and benefits of gambling, it is important to consider all impacts. In this article, we use a conceptual model that offers a common methodology for assessing the impact of gambling on society. This model uses a definition of social impacts, which is consistent with the societal real wealth approach of Walker and Barnett [37].