Gambling is a global activity, with the legal market worth approximately $335 billion. It includes the betting on sports events, games of chance like lotteries and scratch-off tickets, or activities of skill, such as poker and fantasy leagues. While some people may be hesitant to call these activities gambling, they are all wagers in which someone stakes something of value for the potential to gain more. Some people gamble for the thrill of the risk or the excitement of winning, while others are simply attempting to avoid boredom and depression. While there are some negative impacts associated with gambling, it is important to note that there are also many positives, including the ability to improve one’s finances and well-being.
Most people don’t put $20 into a slot machine thinking “this is going to end badly.” Instead, they do it because they believe – maybe just a little bit irrationally, maybe defiantly – that they are special and that Fate will win over math. It’s this optimism, a flicker of possibility and the deep human need to feel chosen that gives gambling its appeal. It’s why Las Vegas is a town built on hope, and why the act of placing a bet stimulates the brain in ways that other activities do not.
The negative impacts of gambling can have a variety of effects on personal, family and community/society levels. These include financial, labor and health and well-being impacts. Financial impacts can include changes in a person’s financial situation, such as increased debt and financial stress. They can also affect the economic status of a region, such as gambling revenue, tourism and infrastructure cost or value changes.
Labor impacts can include increased absenteeism and decreased performance, and can even lead to unemployment. Gambling can also have a negative impact on a person’s health and well-being, such as psychological distress and substance use issues. It can also lead to the loss of friends and social connections, and cause a person to withdraw from their community.
Finally, gambling can negatively affect the economy of a region, including reducing public service revenues and increasing operating costs for businesses. It can also cause people to move to other areas, creating competition for jobs and lowering overall workforce productivity.
While a large portion of research on gambling focuses on its costs, there are few studies that focus on the benefits of gambling for individuals and communities. The few that have been conducted have focused on the positive impact on health, such as reduced anxiety, but there are other possible benefits, including improved quality of life. For example, research has shown that repetitive, rhythmic gambling can trigger the trance-like state known as flow experienced by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and can therefore offer similar benefits to other relaxing activities, such as knitting, painting or meditation. In addition, research has shown that for every person who gambles at high-risk levels, an average of six others are affected by their gambling [32]. Therefore, focusing on the positive aspects of gambling can help counter the negative impacts and encourage safer gambling.
