Gambling is an activity that involves risking a sum of money or something else valuable on an event with an uncertain outcome. The outcome of the event may be determined by chance, such as a coin toss, or by skill and knowledge, like in the case of betting on a football match or scratchcard. Some forms of gambling are illegal, and some people are addicted to it. This addiction can lead to health problems such as financial stress, relationship breakdown, depression, suicide, family violence and mental illness. The harm caused by gambling can last a lifetime and can even pass between generations.
Many people gamble for the adrenaline rush, socialising or escaping from worries and stress. Others feel compelled to gamble because they are trying to win big money or make up for past losses. If you have a problem, talk to someone who can help. This could be a friend, family member or a counsellor. Also, avoid gambling venues and find other ways to socialise or escape from your worries.
The positive and negative impacts of gambling are often analysed in economic literature using cost-benefit analyses. However, these analyses only consider the financial costs and benefits of gambling and neglect other important factors, including health-related quality of life (HRQL) and disability weights. In addition, the methodology for calculating gambling costs and benefits is still evolving. This article presents a conceptual framework to structure gambling impacts into classes, with each class comprising a set of costs and benefits.
