Gambling involves placing something of value on the outcome of a random event, with the intent of winning a prize. It can involve all kinds of activities including the lottery, sports gambling, casino games and online gaming. While many people enjoy gambling as a social activity, for others it can be an addictive behavior with negative personal, family and financial effects.<\/p>\n
Gambling is one of the world’s most popular entertainment activities. It contributes to a significant percentage of the GDP in many countries around the world. It can be very difficult to recognize gambling as a problem when many individuals believe that gambling is a normal part of life. Cultural beliefs and values often play a key role in people’s attitudes towards gambling activity and what constitutes a problem.<\/p>\n
Some people gamble for entertainment reasons \u2013 for example, they may enjoy thinking about what they would do with a large sum of money. Others find gambling a way to escape from boredom or stress. When gambling becomes problematic, however, it is no longer about enjoyment or relief – it’s about making money and profits. Problematic gambling causes a dopamine response in the brain that changes the way an individual perceives risk and reward.<\/p>\n
External impacts of gambling occur at the personal, interpersonal and community\/society levels (Fig 1). They affect more than just the gamblers themselves \u2013 for example, increased debt and financial strain can have negative consequences for their family members and others in the community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Gambling involves placing something of value on the outcome of a random event, with the intent of winning a prize. It can involve all kinds of activities including the lottery, sports gambling, casino games and online gaming. While many people enjoy gambling as a social activity, for others it can be an addictive behavior with … <\/p>\n