Gambling involves staking something of value, such as money or property, on an event with an uncertain outcome. It is a behaviour that can lead to serious harms, including financial stress, relationship problems, family violence, mental illness and suicide. It can also be a significant driver of poverty by diverting household spending away from essential goods and services. The scale of gambling-related harms is estimated to be substantial, and the impact can extend across generations.
There are a variety of forms of gambling, including lotteries, casino games, slot machines and video poker, sports betting, card games, and social events such as bingo and keno. Some forms of gambling are regulated by governments and may involve a fee to participate or a set prize amount. Others are unregulated and may be illegal in some jurisdictions.
Some gambling activities require a high level of skill, such as professional sports betting or trading on the stock market. Other forms of gambling are purely chance, such as lottery tickets or placing bets on horses or other animals. In the context of health, a risky gambling activity can cause harm by increasing anxiety and depleting emotional resources, leading to substance use problems, mental illness, and/or suicide.
The development of a gambling problem is influenced by many factors, such as an individual’s genetic and environmental factors, their relationship with other people, the culture and society in which they live, and their personal circumstances. Research has shown that individuals living in disadvantaged communities are more likely to develop problematic gambling habits. This is because these communities may have fewer opportunities to participate in non-gambling recreational activities, and the types of gambling available may be more appealing to people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Gambling is a widespread activity worldwide. It is estimated that global gambling revenues will reach US$ 700 billion by 2028, with low- and middle-income countries driving this growth. This increase is facilitated by increased access to smartphones and the availability of gambling apps, which enable consumers to place bets from anywhere in the world at any time. This growth is accompanied by an increase in the number of people who gamble at harmful levels, generating around 60% of total losses (gambling revenue).
The risks associated with gambling are largely related to its psychological and social effects. People who engage in harmful gambling can experience serious harms, including financial stress and family breakdown, which can be exacerbated by the stigma attached to these activities. Population-wide interventions that focus on prevention are needed, such as stopping gambling advertising and promotions, centralized account registration to require gamblers to set binding loss limits, and restrictions on a person’s ability to gamble with their own funds. These strategies, when implemented with a strong public health approach, can reduce gambling-related harms.