How Gambling Affects Personal, Family, and Societal Life

Gambling involves putting something of value at risk on an activity whose outcome is primarily determined by chance in the hope of realizing a gain. It has existed in most societies since prerecorded history and is embedded in many customs and rites of passage. It is a common recreational and social activity that can become problematic for a small minority of individuals who develop gambling disorders, which may result in negative personal, family, and societal costs.

The psychological and behavioral processes that lead to gambling addiction differ from those of other substance use disorders (SUDs). The differences may help explain why a person might feel compelled to gamble even when they know it is not a good idea for their health, well-being, or finances. There is also evidence that people who engage in a certain amount of gambling tend to develop a specific set of cognitive distortions that may result in elevated confidence and overestimation of the chances of winning.

These distortions are thought to result from an anticipatory reward system that occurs when a person makes a decision to place a bet and then awaits the outcome. This anticipation phase can trigger a conditioned stimulus response that results in the brain’s release of dopamine, which is associated with rewards and reinforcement.

Research into gambling’s economic impacts is complicated by the fact that it has multiple levels of costs and benefits. For example, a problem gambler’s debts and other monetary losses impact their family members, while the loss of income for small business owners can have a negative effect on local economies. These effects are often invisible to researchers, and they can be difficult to quantify.