Gambling involves the wagering of something of value, on a random event, for a chance at winning another item of value. It requires consideration, risk and a prize. The most common form of gambling is betting money or other items of value on a sporting event, such as a horse race or a game of football, or a lottery drawing. Other forms of gambling include card games, dice, roulette and bingo. Some people participate in private gambling by placing bets with friends or family members in a home setting for fun and socialization.
Most studies on the economic impacts of gambling focus on negative effects, with little attention to positive impacts – even though there are many [41]. A public health approach could help to identify these intangible impacts and their sources. It might also facilitate identifying the most effective measures and ways to promote responsible gambling.
The benefits of gambling can be divided into three classes: financial, labor and health and well-being. The financial class encompasses changes in gambling revenue, impacts on other industries and infrastructure cost or value change. Labor impacts involve gambling effects on work such as increased absenteeism, reduced performance and job loss, while the health and well-being category includes a range of physical, psychological and social impacts.
The nomenclature for gambling and its problems is often difficult to settle upon because researchers, psychiatrists and other treatment care clinicians, and public policy makers frame questions differently based on their discipline and specific interests. Consequently, many different terms are used in the literature and in discussions with others. A consistent nomenclature would make the task of reviewing the evidence more efficient.