When you gamble you are taking a chance that your bet will be lost. But the entertainment value of gambling can be high, as is the thrill of playing casino games. The brain produces dopamine when you win, as if you are shooting baskets into the net and getting closer and closer each time. This is why people like to play poker and other card games – it requires concentration and learning new strategies, which helps stimulate the brain and creates different neural pathways.
Many people believe that gambling is good for society as it occupies idlers who would otherwise be engaging in criminal activities. However, the fact is that gambling can be addictive and impose costs on society. These costs can be divided into financial, labour and health costs, as well as social impacts. The latter are categorized as personal, interpersonal and community/societal levels. The former imposes effects on individuals and their significant others, the latter are the social consequences of gambling that affect other people.
A key warning sign of problem gambling is when it interferes with an individual’s daily life. This could include issues at work or problems with family. It can also impact a person’s mental or physical health. A person’s finances are usually the most obvious area where gambling may cause issues but it can affect any area of their lives. When someone steps away from harmful gambling habits it has an immediate positive impact on their financial situation allowing them to improve budgeting and debt management.
