Gambling is a form of entertainment that involves risking money or something of value on a chance game. It can involve scratch cards, fruit machines, betting with friends or even a trip to a casino. It can be both fun and addictive.
Benefits
The benefits of gambling include socializing, mental developments, and skill improvement. They are all important to our happiness and well-being, which is why it’s a good idea to enjoy them in moderation.
Costs
The costs of gambling may include problems with family, friends, work or study, financial difficulties and possible criminal behaviour. The effects of problem gambling can be devastating for individuals, their relationships and families.
Psychological disorders and conditions, coping styles and beliefs also can make someone more vulnerable to harmful gambling behaviour. If you have a gambling problem, you should seek help and support as soon as possible.
Economic impacts
When a new gambling establishment is built in a community, the local residents who gamble there spend their money on the casino, and in some cases their spending can ‘leak’ into other communities. This is part of the ”industry cannibalisation” process in market economies.
In addition, some of the benefits from gambling may be transferred to suppliers and the owners and investors of gambling establishments outside the community. These benefits are often difficult to measure or quantify in dollar terms, but progress has been made to include them in economic impact studies. This is a positive step towards a more balanced measurement of the effects of gambling.
