The Social Impact of Gambling

Gambling is a widespread activity, and it contributes to a significant percentage of the GDP in countries around the world. It also employs a large number of people. However, gambling has negative effects on many individuals and society as a whole. It can lead to addiction, crime, and poor performance at work or in school. It can also lead to financial problems and even homelessness.

While the majority of adults and adolescents engage in some form of gambling, a small subset of gamblers develop pathological gambling. This condition is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) as a persistent, recurrent pattern of gambling behavior characterized by impaired control or excessive involvement with gambling. While most gambling behaviors do not meet criteria for diagnosis of pathological gambling, there is a growing role for evaluation of patients’ gambling behaviors in a primary care setting.

The social impact of gambling has been examined at the individual, interpersonal, and community/societal levels. Negative impacts can include strained relationships, increased debt and financial instability, low performance at work or in school, and health and well-being impairments. Positive impacts can include social integration, increased civic engagement, and a sense of belonging. It is important to examine these impacts on their own, rather than focusing solely on the incidence of problem gambling.

Using a public health approach, researchers have compared costs and benefits of gambling to determine the true cost of the activity. This approach uses quality of life weights, commonly used in alcohol and drug research, to measure intangible costs and benefits of gambling. These approaches are complementary and should be used in conjunction with each other to discover the full range of impacts.

While it can be challenging to cope with a loved one who is struggling with a gambling addiction, there are steps you can take to help. First, reach out to your support network. This can be family and friends, a support group such as Gamblers Anonymous, or a professional counselor. You can also try to find healthy ways to relieve boredom or stress, such as exercising, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, or practicing relaxation techniques.