Imagine you’re in a twinkly casino with plenty of people and sounds. You’ve filled up at the buffet and you’re ready to roll the dice. You have dreams of hitting the jackpot and retiring on your own private island. But the reality isn’t quite so dreamy. It’s possible to lose more than you can afford and compulsive gambling can also make mood disorders worse. It’s important to start with a fixed amount you’re willing to lose, then stick to it.

Most adults and adolescents gamble without problems, but a subset of those who gamble develop a gambling disorder. This can cause a variety of negative impacts, both personal and societal. These can include financial, labor and health, and well-being.

The reasons people gamble differ, but they can be based on social factors or on the desire to win money. Some people gamble for the rush or high they get from risk-taking. This is often referred to as ‘addiction’. It’s also possible to gamble for the entertainment value – people may enjoy thinking about what they would do if they won, or how much money they could spend.

Gambling contributes a percentage to the GDP of many countries across the world, and can be a major source of revenue. It also creates employment opportunities in different sectors. Moreover, it is a great source of recreation and provides numerous health benefits such as happiness, stress reduction, sharpening of the brain, etc.