Gambling involves putting something of value on an event that is unpredictable or uncertain in order to win something of greater value. It can take the form of betting on sporting events, horse races or other casino games such as poker machines and fruit machines. It can also include lottery tickets and speculating on business, insurance or stock market returns.
In addition to its financial benefits, gambling offers a variety of social benefits, such as meeting with friends at the gaming venue, pooling resources to purchase a ticket, and discussing strategies for winning. However, it is important to note that gambling can also lead to negative effects such as increased stress and a loss of control over finances.
The impacts of gambling can be observed at the personal and interpersonal level as well as at the society/community and economy levels (Fig 1). In general, societal impacts are non-monetary and involve gamblers’ significant others, family members and work colleagues. In contrast, personal impacts are monetary and involve gamblers themselves. These can include visible costs that are based on the activity and invisible costs that may not be apparent such as a gambler’s debt escalating to bankruptcy or homelessness. In addition, the economic impact of gambling can be positive or negative depending on whether it increases or decreases societal real wealth. Currently, most studies focus on the monetary aspect of gambling. However, an approach that focuses on the costs and benefits of gambling from a public health perspective could provide a more holistic picture.