Gambling is any activity that involves risking something of value (money, property or personal health) in an attempt to win a prize. People can gamble in casinos, racetracks, at work or even on the Internet. The most common form of gambling is betting on a sporting event or buying a scratchcard. The person chooses a team or outcome of an event and then’matches’ this choice with ‘odds’, which determine how much money they could win if successful.
A person may feel compelled to gamble for a variety of reasons, such as boredom, financial problems, emotional distress or depression, feelings of worthlessness, wanting to forget unpleasant emotions, or simply because they believe they can make more money than they lose. Some people are more prone to developing a gambling problem than others; for example, young people are often more susceptible than older adults, and men are more likely than women to develop an addiction. In addition, people with low incomes are more likely to start gambling than those with higher levels of wealth.
The majority of studies have focused on the economic and labor impacts of gambling, which are easy to quantify. Fewer studies have attempted to explore the social costs or benefits of gambling, which are more difficult to measure. Various authors have used different definitions of social impacts, reflecting their disciplinary training and world view. However, a consistent nomenclature is needed for researchers to discuss the impact of gambling.
