A concept map of the impacts of gambling can help analyze the effects of gambling on people’s health and well-being. The impacts are categorized as negative, positive, economic, labor, health, and well-being, societal, and personal. Personal and interpersonal impacts of gambling can be seen from a micro-level, while external impacts occur on a societal and global level. In the context of development, gambling impacts may include general, negative, and problem gambling effects.
Positive effects of gambling on physical and mental health
Compulsive gambling can have devastating consequences to a person’s physical and mental health. It can wreck relationships, leave people in debt, and create an unhealthy gambling habit. There are many treatment options available to help individuals with gambling addictions. GamCare offers resources and a self-assessment tool to help individuals address their problems and change their gambling habits. Gambling is also linked to certain medications that can trigger compulsive behaviour.
However, there are also many positive impacts associated with gambling. It is known that recreational gamblers have lower health problems than nongamblers. Among older Australians, gambling has been associated with a more positive self-concept and increased socialization. In lower socioeconomic groups, gambling has even been linked to improved health. The positive psychological effects of gambling have been linked to higher levels of optimism, which is a significant benefit in difficult life situations.
Negative effects of problem gambling on job performance
This study shows that people with problem gambling are more likely to report poor job performance than people without problem gambling. Moreover, those with gambling-related issues report more absences from work, decreased productivity, and impaired working relationships. In addition, the negative effects of problem gambling can also lead to criminal behavior in the workplace. The study’s findings highlight the need for employers to be aware of the warning signs of problem gambling in employees.
A study of gaming employees found that a high proportion of these individuals suffered from problem gambling, despite the fact that the prevalence of pathological gambling in the general adult population is less than 2%. However, in the USA, Queensland, and Macau, the rate is higher. Among gaming employees, the prevalence of problem gambling is correlated with the amount of stress they face at work. However, this finding was not statistically significant.
Costs of problem gambling to society
While there is a long debate regarding the relationship between problem gambling and crime, some experts have concluded that up to two-thirds of those with gambling problems will commit nonviolent crimes in order to continue their addictions. The crimes typically involve illegal funds, theft, fenced stolen goods, or insurance fraud. Problem gambling can also lead to serious financial trouble and may even lead to violence in intimate relationships. Hence, the costs of problem gambling to society are enormous.
In a recent study, the costs of problem gambling to society were estimated at $1.1 billion per year, and accounted for 13% of the nation’s GDP. Similar results were observed in other countries, such as the Czech Republic and Australia. While there are no concrete figures on the costs to society, the studies indicate that there is a need for greater investment in the prevention and treatment of problem gambling. In the United States, it is estimated that there are over a million people suffering from gambling-related problems, including those with mental illnesses.