The effects of gambling are multifaceted, ranging from negative impacts to positive impacts. This article looks at the monetary, non-monetary and social costs of problem gambling. It also discusses some of the potential causes and treatments. Listed below are three main impact categories: personal, interpersonal, and societal. Personal and interpersonal impacts include: Financial: gambling revenues, tourism, and economic activity. Economic activity is affected by infrastructure costs and value changes. Labor: Employment, productivity, and job gains are impacted. Health: Physical and psychological well-being is affected by gambling.
Problem gambling
The term “problem gambling” has been used in a variety of ways by the research community. It encompasses people who are unable to meet diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling, but who nevertheless engage in problematic gambling. Problem gambling is often associated with damage to personal life, family, and vocational pursuits. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), problem gambling refers to a continuum of difficulty in gambling. As such, a person who is experiencing problem gambling spends an excessive amount of time and resources on their gambling.
Positive effects of gambling
Gambling has many social and economic effects, including benefits and costs. Studies have shown that different gambling policies affect individual gamblers and society. The effects of gambling are classified into three categories: short-term, long-term, and problem gambling. Some gambling-related consequences may be beneficial, while others may be detrimental. These impacts vary in terms of intensity, but the overall pattern is consistent. These effects are often measured as costs. While the monetary costs of gambling can be easily calculated, social costs are difficult to quantify.
Negative impacts of gambling
The impacts of gambling on society are measurable on three levels: individual, interpersonal, and societal. Individual level impacts include the costs associated with gambling, which include short and long-term damages, and social and economic costs related to the problem. Societal and financial impacts include the costs associated with infrastructure and social services, and are usually invisible to individuals and families. These costs are sometimes recognized at the societal and community level, but are often invisible to the individual. In addition, society/community-level impacts include long-term costs and benefits of problem gambling.
Non-monetary costs of problem gambling
The costs of problem gambling are not just monetary; they are also intangible. A study in Sweden estimated that the societal cost of problem gambling was EUR1419 million in 2018, which includes both direct and indirect costs. The direct and indirect costs combined accounted for half of the total cost, while the intangible costs accounted for the remaining two-thirds. Although these costs are not directly measurable, they are nonetheless important and deserve more attention than they are receiving today.
Impacts of gambling on employment
While there are numerous negative effects of gambling on the economy, it is also true that those involved in the gambling industry tend to earn more than those who do not. This effect is particularly visible among professional poker players. Overall, negative effects of gambling on employment are more limited, but still significant. Considering the fact that problem gamblers are a relatively small percentage of the population, the positive effects of gambling on the economy are greater than its negative ones.
