Gambling refers to any activity that involves betting on the outcome of an event. The activity can be done through a variety of ways including lotteries, casino games and sports wagering. It contributes a given percentage of the GDP in countries across the globe and employs a large number of people. In addition, gambling teaches a variety of skills from pattern recognition and critical thinking to maths and socialization. It also encourages teamwork for games like blackjack and poker that require more than one player to participate.
Despite these benefits, gambling can have many negative impacts on the gambler and their family/friends. These impacts can be structuralized into three classes: financial, labor and health and well-being. Impacts manifest at personal, interpersonal and community/society levels. Individual level impacts induce effects to the gambler and include their financial situation, their family members’ lives and the consequences of escalating into problem gambling which can lead to bankruptcy and homelessness.
In the case of gambling, research has shown that certain individuals may be genetically predisposed to thrill-seeking behaviours and impulsivity. In addition, some communities consider gambling as a normal pastime, making it difficult to recognize a problem and seek help when needed. Moreover, the dopamine reward system in the brain is altered by problem gambling which increases the likelihood of an individual taking risks and feeling a rush when things turn out well for them. This can also affect the ability to control impulses, manage risk and set appropriate boundaries for their gambling activities.