Gambling involves the wagering of something of value on an event with a chance of winning another thing of value. It is an activity that is popular around the world and has significant negative social, family, financial and health consequences for individuals who gamble.

Many people gamble for fun and enjoy the thrill of a big win. However, a small group of individuals becomes seriously addicted to gambling and experiences major negative personal and family life consequences. These individuals are considered to have a gambling disorder.

Those who have a gambling disorder are at risk of escalating their debt to unmanageable levels, destroying their financial security and even going into bankruptcy. In addition, they may lie to others about their gambling behavior and rely on friends or relatives for money to fund their habit. They also tend to avoid or hide the problem, and they find it difficult to stop gambling.

Negative impacts of gambling include a wide range of problems, including financial, labor, and health and well-being. Impacts are categorized as internal and external, with the former causing effects at the personal level to gamblers while the latter influences interpersonal relationships or the community/society level and concern other people. Examples of external impacts include financial costs, family and work problems, the impact of a gambler’s escalating debt and resulting in homelessness or bankruptcy. These impacts can affect a person for a long period of time and are often overlooked.