Gambling involves risking something of value – including money and/or time – on an event with an uncertain outcome. It is a form of entertainment or recreation for some people, but can lead to serious harms for others. These include financial ruin, relationship breakdown, mental illness, and suicide. The harms can have lasting effects for individuals, their families and communities.
Harmful gambling can cause problems with work, home life and relationships. It can also lead to debt and legal issues. Those suffering from problem gambling may feel shame, anxiety and fear. Often they will not seek help. This can put strain on family and friends who may need to step in to support them.
Some people are more vulnerable to developing a gambling problem. These include men, those who start to gamble later in life, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and certain personality characteristics. People who are highly competitive, impulsive, restless or easily bored can be at risk of compulsive gambling. Some medications – such as those used to treat Parkinson’s disease and restless legs syndrome – can have a side effect of increasing the chance of gambling addiction.
Young people, particularly those with access to mobile phones and electronic games that simulate gambling activities, are also at increased risk of becoming problem gamblers. Many of these games include ‘loot boxes’ which can be purchased with real world monetary transactions. Children as young as seven have been found to spend long periods of time playing these types of games.
A person’s level of risk of developing a problem is influenced by several factors, including the nature and intensity of their exposure to gambling products and marketing. Some products – such as electronic gambling machines (EGMs) – have design features that encourage extended use, and their promotion is often aggressive. There is often little transparency about how gambling products work, and existing health promotions can be undermined by so-called ‘dark nudges’ which exploit cognitive biases and enhance normalization of gambling.
The harms of gambling include financial ruin, family conflict, loss of employment, mental distress and suicide. Gambling harms can persist throughout one’s lifetime and have intergenerational impacts. Taking a holistic approach to reduce gambling harms requires a multisectoral effort, with prevention as the most cost-effective strategy.
A clear definition of gambling can help establish laws and regulations that protect consumers from fraudulent or unscrupulous practices, as well as identifying those who are at greatest risk for a harmful gambling habit. This will be important for special populations, such as adolescents, veterans, aging adults, and those from Asian or Latino communities. It will also help to create responsible gambling measures that prevent addiction and financial ruin.