Social and Health Costs of Gambling

gambling

Gambling has many costs, which manifest on an individual, interpersonal, and societal level. While the financial impacts of gambling are well-documented, the social costs are more difficult to quantify, especially when they include the emotional and relational stress and damage that gambling causes. However, even though the economic and social costs are obvious, there are also many invisible costs associated with gambling. These include problems with relationships and bankruptcy. To better understand these impacts, it is helpful to look at the problem of gambling from a social and health perspective.

Gambling is an enormous global industry. In the United States alone, $335 billion was wagered in 2009. There are many forms of gambling. One of the most popular is lottery gaming. During the 20th century, state-operated lotteries grew rapidly. Football pools are also popular in nearly every European country, many South American countries, and a few African and Asian countries. Most countries also offer state-licensed wagering on other sporting events.

If you have a problem with gambling, it can be beneficial to undergo counseling. Some treatment options include individual counseling and family therapy. These treatments can help a person deal with the underlying issues that contributed to their problem gambling. Additionally, professional help is available online through BetterHelp. These services are reader-supported, so clicking on a link may generate a commission for us.