The Social Impacts of Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of something of value on a random event (such as a roll of dice, spin of a roulette wheel, or outcome of a race) with the intent of winning something else of value. It requires three elements: consideration, risk, and a prize.
Throughout history, gambling has often been seen as immoral and illegal. However, it is now a legal activity in many countries around the world. People gamble for a variety of reasons, including the excitement and reward of winning, socializing with friends, and escaping from worries or stress. But for some, gambling can become an addiction. If you have a problem with gambling, there are treatments and support services available to help.
In the past, some governments have banned gambling, while others have promoted it by introducing casinos and other venues. But regardless of how gambling is carried out, it has both positive and negative social impacts. These impacts can be assessed at personal, interpersonal and societal/community levels. Personal and interpersonal impacts influence and concern gamblers themselves, while societal and community impacts affect those who are not necessarily gamblers.
Research suggests that some people are genetically predisposed to thrill-seeking behaviour and impulsivity. These people may have a less active brain reward system, and be less capable of controlling their emotions and weighing risk. This can make it harder to recognize and address a gambling problem.
Other factors that can contribute to problematic gambling include a family history of problem gambling, substance abuse and depression, and a low income. In addition, some communities consider gambling to be a normal pastime, which can lead to a lack of awareness that someone is struggling.
In some cases, people who are struggling with gambling problems may hide their addiction or lie about it. They might also spend money they don’t have or borrow to fund their gambling habits. In extreme cases, this can lead to financial disasters and bankruptcy.
Studies have shown that social and psychological impacts of gambling are usually overlooked in calculations of the overall costs and benefits of gambling. One way to improve this is to adopt a health-related quality of life approach similar to that used in drug and alcohol abuse research. This would help identify the intangible social impacts of gambling and take these into account when calculating benefits.
Negative economic effects of casino introduction have been reported, including declines in community cohesion and increased prices for goods and services. In particular, property and living costs have risen faster than wages since gambling was introduced. In addition, social impacts have been reported, such as declines in the sense of community and increases in isolation and deprivation [87]. The economic impact of gambling can be assessed using a cost-benefit analysis approach that is commonly applied to drug and alcohol abuse research. This allows the monetary value of social and psychological harms to be included in calculations of the costs and benefits of gambling. This approach is also referred to as health-related quality of life weights or disability weights [32]. This is also a common method for assessing the cost-benefits of healthcare interventions.