Gambling involves putting something of value, usually money, at risk on an event that has an element of chance and could result in a financial reward. It can be done through a number of methods including lottery tickets, casino games such as blackjack, poker and roulette, bingo, instant scratchcards, horse racing, sporting events or even dice.
People gamble for a number of reasons, from social to financial and entertainment. It can make a social gathering more enjoyable or give them a rush or ‘high’. It can also help them to forget their problems or relieve stress. Psychologically, it can trigger the release of feel-good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin.
While gambling can be a fun and exciting pastime, it can also lead to serious consequences for individuals and their families. Some of the most serious impacts include financial, health and relationship issues. These can have long-term effects, both on a person’s wellbeing and the wider community.
When studying the socioeconomic impact of gambling, it is important to look at both the negative and positive aspects. This can be done by using a public health approach to gambling, which recognises that harms and costs occur across the whole spectrum of gambling behaviour, not just problem gambling. It can also be done by using longitudinal data. This type of research can be particularly useful as it allows researchers to measure changes over time and identify factors that moderate or exacerbate an individual’s gambling participation.
