Gambling is the wagering of something of value on a random event with the intent to win something else of value. It involves three elements: consideration, risk, and a prize. It can be done by placing bets on sports events, lottery games, scratch cards, or casino games, such as roulette, blackjack, and poker, whether in person, at home, or online. In some cases, gambling becomes a serious problem that can strain relationships and cause financial disaster. Depending on the severity, it can also lead to legal troubles and other problems.
It can be difficult to know when someone has a gambling problem. It may seem like they are just having a little fun, but it can quickly become out of control. They may hide their behavior from family and friends or lie about how much they gamble, trying to cover up their losses. They may even steal money to gamble. Ultimately, they will find it harder and harder to stop gambling and could end up in a cycle of debt or even bankruptcy.
Impacts from gambling can be observed at personal, interpersonal and society/community levels (Fig. 1). In a health perspective, they can be measured with health-related quality of life weights or disability weights. They include monetary costs, such as loss of income or property, and non-monetary costs such as emotional distress or loss of enjoyment in daily activities. These impacts can be long-term and can pass between generations.