Gambling involves risking something of value – often money – to predict the outcome of an event that is influenced by chance, such as a football match or scratchcard game. If the gambler predicts correctly they win money. If they’re wrong, they lose their original stake. People gamble for a variety of reasons, from the thrill of winning to the social interaction with friends and colleagues. But for some it becomes harmful, causing problems with health, relationships, work and studies and even getting them into debt and homelessness.
When gambling is done for fun and excitement, it can be an enjoyable pastime that helps to relieve boredom and stress. It can also be a way to meet people and try new things. But when it becomes a problem, it can turn into an addictive behaviour that replaces healthier ways to cope with unpleasant feelings and unwind, such as exercise, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, or practicing relaxation techniques.
The aim of this article is to review complementing and contrasting views on the effects of gambling and develop a common methodology for assessing the impact of gambling at society/community and individual levels. These are split into three classes: financial impacts, labour and health/wellbeing impacts. Financial impacts include changes in the finances of individuals, such as gambling revenues, tourism and investment impacts. Labour and health/wellbeing impacts are indirect and non-monetary in nature and include personal and interpersonal effects, as well as societal/community level externalities, such as general costs of problem gambling and long term costs/benefits.