Gambling and Its Social Impacts

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Gambling involves risking something of value on a random event for the chance to win something else of value. It includes any game of chance or skill where a prize is involved, such as betting on a football match or buying a scratchcard. People can gamble in casinos, sports arenas and online. It is easier than ever for young people and even some adults to engage in gambling.

Some people become addicted to gambling because it provides them with excitement, thrill and social interaction. Problematic gambling often leads to financial and psychological distress. People who suffer from mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are more vulnerable to problem gambling.

While some people gamble for the excitement, others do it to escape their stress or financial problems. They also use gambling to meet their basic needs for belonging, status and power such as when they attend casino events or buy high-end merchandise. Problematic gambling changes the reward pathway in the brain and causes a chemical imbalance.

Until recently, research has focused on measuring only the economic costs and benefits of gambling. However, the majority of the effects are non-economic and can’t be quantified using conventional cost-benefit analysis. This article reviews complementing and contrasting methodologies to develop a conceptual model of the best ways to measure and calculate gambling’s social impacts. This model uses a definition of social impacts developed by Williams et al. and applied to a framework for calculating them proposed by Walker.