Studies of gambling have mostly ignored social effects. They have measured economic costs and benefits, but have neglected to consider social impacts. In this article, we will examine the impacts of gambling on society. According to Williams et al. and Walker and Barnett, the social cost of gambling is harming someone while benefiting nobody. These social costs are not personal in nature, but rather affect the social structure. In other words, the cost of gambling is not just personal; it also affects the economy.
Economic cost-benefit analysis
The negative effects of gambling are widely recognized, but the benefits are not equally apparent. The social costs of gambling are not fully quantified by economic cost-benefit analysis. The negative effects are usually measured using health-related quality of life weights, which measure the overall effect of a person’s health on their quality of life. Another measure of the social costs of gambling is the pain experienced by problem gamblers.
Types of gamblers
There are two types of gamblers: social and professional. Both view gambling as a means of sociability, entertainment, and relaxation. Casual gamblers don’t place a high priority on their gambling activities, but they do place a high priority on their family. Serious gamblers have a much higher level of skill and focus in their gambling than social gamblers. Unlike casual social gamblers, serious social gamblers maintain control of their gambling habits and have a great deal of patience.
Impacts on health
The SF-12 and SGHS are two instruments for quantifying the impact of gambling on health and wellbeing. They yield health utility scores that can be used to estimate the impact of gambling on the population. The SF-12 contains items related to physical pain and functioning, two outcomes that are unlikely to be adversely affected by severe gambling problems. These tools are not perfect and can be subject to biases and over-attribution. Therefore, further research is needed to compare the effects of gambling on the health of gamblers and to determine the optimal level of intervention.
Costs on public services
In addition to affecting businesses, the expansion of gambling can have a negative effect on the community. Some researchers have identified social costs of gambling, including bankruptcy, crime, mental illness, and suicide. Another group of people who suffer from gambling problems include workers, who are often subjected to regulatory costs, and others who suffer from poor health and job loss. The overall cost of gambling is estimated at approximately $13,200 per person each year.
Impacts on social interactions
In order to examine the impact of gambling on social relationships, researchers recruited women from Victoria, Australia, and had them complete a questionnaire as they left shopping centers, recreational centers, and electronic gaming machines. The questionnaire included three parts, including the South Oaks Gambling Screen (a measure of problem gambling), the UCLA Loneliness Scale (an assessment of feelings of loneliness), and the Gambling Social Norms Scale (a measure of perceived acceptance of gambling among friends).