The Dangers of Gambling

Gambling is the betting or staking of something of value, including money, on an outcome that is determined by chance and that is not under one’s control or influence. It involves the conscious risk of losing that something and can be conducted on a number of things, like lotteries, sports games and casino games. It can also be conducted with materials that have a symbolic value, such as marbles or game pieces in board games or trading cards in collectible card games like Magic: The Gathering and Pogs.

Globally, gambling harms are widespread and growing rapidly. They include relationship breakdown, family violence and suicide. They can contribute to poverty and inequality by diverting household consumption expenditure from essential goods and services. They are often exacerbated by easy access to gambling products such as EGMs and online gambling platforms, which are increasingly available in low-income communities. They can also be facilitated by commercial associations with sport and cultural activities and aggressive promotion through sponsorship and advertising.

There are a range of risk factors that increase the likelihood of problem gambling, which may be psychological and/or environmental in nature. Some people are at greater risk than others. Men are more likely to develop problems, but they can start at any age. Children as young as seven can be exposed to gambling through video and mobile games that ask for micro-transactions and payments, and older people can become attracted to gambling because of their boredom or isolation.