Causes and Impacts of Gambling
Gambling is a popular recreational activity in which people place bets on events, such as sports games, horse races or scratchcards. The outcome of the gamble is determined by chance, and winnings can be a great source of entertainment or even fortune. However, gambling can also cause social, economic and psychological problems for individuals and their families. It is important to understand what causes gambling problems and how these effects can be minimised.
There are a number of signs that indicate that gambling is becoming more than an occasional amusement and may be turning into a problem. These include: Do you or your loved one hide money to cover bills and debts from gambling? Does your gambling take up more time than it should? Do you feel compelled to gamble to escape boredom, stress or worry? Do thoughts of gambling interfere with your sleep or work performance? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you may have a gambling problem.
A problem gambling diagnosis is a comprehensive evaluation of the person’s current functioning and their family, relationships, work, health and home life. The assessment is carried out by a trained professional who can help the individual and their family cope with problems caused by gambling. This can involve family therapy and other types of counselling such as career, marriage or credit counselling.
The causes of gambling problems are complex, and some people are more susceptible to developing a disorder than others. People with lower incomes are more likely to develop gambling disorders, as are adolescent boys and men. Special populations, such as adolescent girls and women, older adults, and Latino and Asian communities, are also more likely to develop gambling disorders.
Many studies have focused on the negative impacts of gambling, such as loss of earnings and increased debt. However, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests the social costs of gambling also need to be considered, and this is an area that has received little attention in the literature.
The social costs of gambling can be measured at three levels: the personal level (individual), interpersonal level and society/community level. At the individual level, social costs are mainly invisible, but can become visible in other ways, for example through financial hardships, which can lead to family discord or suicide. At the interpersonal level, social costs can be seen in terms of conflicts between spouses and children, and are often underestimated. At the society/community level, social costs can be seen in the form of reduced community well-being and societal losses such as reduced productivity. Several methods of measuring social costs of gambling are available, including health-related quality of life weights, a form of disability weighting, and public expenditure analysis using a societal net benefit approach. These measures can be used to discover hidden social costs and benefits of gambling, and highlight the need for a more holistic approach.