Gambling involves risking something of value on an event based on chance in the hope of making a profit. It has existed in every society since prerecorded history and it is now widely practiced, both legally and illegally. It has many positive and negative economic, social and psychological impacts.
Some benefits that gamblers reap from this activity include learning how to play new games, enhancing their brain health by studying patterns and numbers and socialization with others. However, people should remember that gambling can be addictive and therefore should be played responsibly.
The socialization aspect of gambling may be beneficial to people who suffer from depression and other mental health problems, as it gives them something to look forward to and helps them stay engaged with their lives. In addition, it has been shown to increase happiness levels. Moreover, gambling has been shown to decrease stress and anxiety, as it requires one to make decisions, which can be a great way to practice self-control.
Gambling also provides a source of employment for many people in cities like Las Vegas, which is the world’s largest gambling city. It also gives people an alternative to other forms of entertainment that may be harmful to their health and social life, such as drugs or alcohol.
Impacts from gambling can be observed at the personal, interpersonal and community/societal levels (Fig 1). Personal impacts affect gamblers themselves while interpersonal impacts are observed among gamblers’ friends, family members and coworkers. Lastly, community/societal impacts affect everyone, regardless of whether they gamble or not.