Gambling is an activity in which people stake something of value (money, goods, services or even time) on the outcome of a game of chance or skill and hope to win a prize. It can happen in a variety of places including casinos, racetracks, sports events and online. Gambling can be an exciting and rewarding pastime for many people. It provides them with a break from everyday stress and can be enjoyable with friends. However, for a small group of individuals gambling can become a harmful and addictive habit that leads to serious personal, family and financial problems.
External impacts of gambling are observed at the personal, interpersonal, and community/society level and can have long-term effects that change an individual’s life course and even pass between generations [1]. At the personal and interpersonal level, these costs are primarily non-monetary and include the intangible loss of pleasure from gambling. At the society/community level, external impacts are mostly monetary and include general costs, costs related to problem gambling and long-term cost.
If you or a loved one is struggling with a gambling addiction, help is available. Strengthen your support network and try to spend less time with gamblers. If you need to, set boundaries in managing money, have someone else be in charge of the finances and close online betting accounts. You can also join a peer support group such as Gamblers Anonymous which is modelled on Alcoholics Anonymous and has helped many people to quit gambling.