There are many positive aspects to gambling, but it is not without its downsides. It can be addictive, especially when a player is trying to win big money and get a feel-good rush from doing it. Problem gambling can start at any age and has been known to affect children as young as seven years old. It can also be triggered by a range of factors including loneliness and boredom. In the UK, men are more likely to develop a gambling problem than women. It is also common for people to gamble when they are feeling depressed.
Gambling creates both negative and positive impacts on the gambler, their significant others and society/community. These impacts can be structuralized using a model that consists of classes of costs and benefits – namely financial, labor, and health and well-being. These classes manifest on personal, interpersonal and community/societal levels (Fig. 1).
The positive impact of gambling includes the fact that it boosts the economy, particularly in smaller communities where casinos bring in a lot of money. This is because of the jobs created – casinos need employees to operate, whether it be behind the scenes or in front of the camera for live games. Online casinos also require employees to run their sites. Paddy Power, for example, employs around 7,000 people worldwide.
Gambling also has a number of social benefits, such as providing an opportunity to interact with other people, which is especially useful for older adults. It can also improve a person’s self-concept, especially among lower socioeconomic groups, where the hope of a small win can help them keep up their spirits and optimism in difficult life circumstances.
