Gambling is the wagering of something of value on an event that is primarily based on chance in hopes of making a profit. It has existed in virtually every society since prerecorded history and has been incorporated into local customs and rites of passage throughout the centuries. People gamble for a variety of reasons, including: the desire for thrills, socializing with others, and mental development and skill improvement. It is important to note that gambling is not without its risks, and that it can lead to addiction.
Gamblers’ brains release dopamine when they win, which can make them feel elated and excited. This reaction is caused by the same chemicals as those produced by ingesting drugs, which can make people lose control of their actions and become addicted to gambling. The risk of addiction can be mitigated by practicing responsible gambling, such as betting small amounts and limiting how often you play.
Although many people believe that gambling is an innocent pastime, it can have serious negative effects on the gambler and his or her family members. Some of these impacts can be long-lasting, affecting several generations of a family. These effects include financial hardship, bankruptcy, domestic violence, child abuse and suicide. In addition, there are societal and community impacts that can be observed at the personal, interpersonal and community/society levels. These include external costs (such as gambling revenues, tourism and impacts on other industries), labor impacts (changes in work performance, absenteeism and turnover) and health and well-being impacts (including psychological, physical, social and familial).
The methods used to examine these gambling impacts are largely dependent on the perspective from which they are analyzed. For example, studies that use economic analysis focus on gaming revenues and impacts on other sectors of the economy, while those using a public health approach consider the impact on individuals’ quality of life. It is also important to recognize that a gambler’s social and community context can influence their view of what constitutes a problem, and thus their willingness to seek help.
A key methodological challenge is determining what portion of these gambling impacts are attributable to the activity itself. In addition, it is important to identify and measure the intangible benefits of gambling to determine how much they contribute to overall happiness and well-being. This can be achieved by evaluating the positive health-related quality of life impacts of gambling, which are often overlooked. These are commonly measured by disability weights, which can be applied to gambling-related data to quantify the burden of an activity on a person’s quality of life. This can provide a basis for developing common methodologies to calculate the cost and benefit of gambling on an individual, inter-personal, and community/society level. This will allow researchers and policymakers to understand the full impact of gambling. This will help them to develop effective interventions and policies.