The Social Impacts of Gambling
Gambling is an activity where wealth changes hands, based on chance and risk, where instances of skill are discounted. It involves betting on an event with a prize to be won and may include games of chance, card games, sports betting, scratchcards, and lottery. It is a form of leisure activity and, as such, has many social impacts.
Some people gamble responsibly and find it an entertaining diversion. Others overindulge and incur debts that impair their abilities to support themselves or their families. The vast majority of people can control their gambling habits and stop when they want to.
Biological factors such as an underactive brain reward system, impaired judgment and impulsivity, and cognitive distortions contribute to problematic gambling. In addition, some cultures consider gambling a normal pastime, making it hard to recognize when one has a problem. Social factors, such as the presence of family members with a gambling addiction, can also contribute to the development of a gambling disorder.
A number of studies have examined the impact of gambling on individuals. These studies have focused on the effects of different forms of gambling, such as casino, lottery, and horse race betting. They have also looked at the relationship between proximity to casinos and the prevalence of problem gambling. Some studies have also included an analysis of the costs and benefits of gambling.
Interpersonal and community/society level impacts have received less attention. This is partly because it has been difficult to define and measure these impacts. It is important to note that the term “social impact” must be defined in a way that includes both monetary and non-monetary costs/benefits. Williams et al. [32] have used the definition that “society/community level external costs aggregate societal real wealth and harm others, but benefit no one.”
Gambling can cause a number of personal problems, including family abuse, petty theft and illicit lending. Moreover, it can be a cause of psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety. It is also associated with domestic violence and homicide. In fact, pathological gambling has been shown to increase the odds of dating and severe marital violence and of perpetrating physical intimate partner violence (IPV) – even after controlling for mental disorders. It is also a cause of financial loss and bankruptcy, and leads to increased demand for social services. It is therefore essential to understand the negative impacts of gambling in order to address them effectively.