Gambling is an activity where people place value on outcomes that are determined by chance. It may involve betting on a sporting event, a game of chance, or even a lottery draw. People gamble for a variety of reasons, such as the adrenaline rush of winning money, the socialising aspect or to relieve boredom or stress. However, it can also have negative effects on mental health and can lead to addiction. If you have a gambling problem, there are ways to get help.
People have been gambling for centuries. In ancient times, it was common for people to play games of chance and to bet on the outcome of events like horse races or football matches. For example, the Bible refers to the casting of lots for the garment of Jesus during his Crucifixion. However, gambling in modern times is much more prevalent and has many different forms. It can be done in casinos, at home via online casinos or real casinos and through apps.
Most studies of gambling have focused on the financial, labor, and health impacts of gambling. It has been difficult to measure the social impacts of gambling, as they are non-monetary and often overlooked in calculations. The model of benefits and costs developed in this article offers a base from which to start building common methodology for assessing social impacts of gambling, following the approach explicated by Walker [37] and Williams and others [32]. The model also includes the concept of invisible benefits and costs that are not easily quantified.