Gambling is a common pastime that involves risking money or other valuables on an outcome of chance, such as the roll of a dice, spin of a roulette wheel, or a horse race. The gambler hopes to win the game and gain wealth, but if they lose, they will suffer a loss in value of whatever they used as stakes. Historically, gambling was considered immoral and illegal. However, it is now a legal and widespread recreational activity, with different rules and regulations in place to protect consumers from the potential negative effects of gambling and promote responsible behavior.
While most adults and adolescents have placed a bet, some people develop gambling disorders, which are characterized by compulsive gambling and a lack of control over gambling activities. Vulnerability to gambling disorder is higher in people with lower incomes, because they have more to lose when they fail, and in young people, who are prone to risk-taking. Moreover, a growing number of women and men are developing gambling problems.
Research on gambling impacts has largely focused on economic costs and benefits, as these are more easily quantifiable than social costs. The latter are invisible to the researcher and manifest on personal and interpersonal levels. They can include changes in financial situations, labor impacts (changes in productivity, absenteeism, reduced performance), and health and well-being impacts. In a public health approach, these social impacts can be measured using health-related quality of life weights, also known as disability weights.
