In a recent article, we examined the social and financial harms of gambling and the harms associated with problem gambling. This model is a helpful tool for future research and policymaking on gambling. However, there is still much more to understand about gambling. Let’s review some important points to consider. Listed below are four areas of research we need to continue exploring:
Responsible gambling
The term responsible gambling refers to the social responsibility efforts of the gaming industry, including vendors, governments, and gaming control boards. Responsible gambling promotes awareness of the risks of gambling and how to minimize the negative impacts associated with it. These initiatives can range from self-exclusion programs that enable players to take a break from playing, to deposit limits and time limits. Permanent account closure is another option, which allows a player to block themselves from the gambling platform.
Problem gambling
The term “problem gambling” has several overlapping definitions in the research community. Some definitions include individuals who meet only part of the diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling, and others describe those whose problem gambling behaviors interfere with their personal lives or undermine their vocational pursuits. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, “problem gambling is a continuum of difficulties in gambling, with pathological gambling occupying the more severe end of the spectrum.” The distinction is particularly useful because a problem gambler is one who spends more time and resources on gambling than on other activities.
Financial harms
The indirect costs of gambling are largely measured in lost productivity, measured in hours of work and time spent dealing with crises. According to a study published in Quebec, problem gambling among employees costs employers about $5 million a year in lost wages. Another source of financial harms is employee theft and embezzlement, which often fund gambling behavior. These two factors make the financial harms of gambling much higher than previously thought. However, research in Connecticut is limited on social costs of gambling.
Social harms
The debate over the social harms of gambling has long been raged in Ireland. But politicians aren’t convinced by the arguments that support the expansion of gaming. There are a number of ways to mitigate these harms. One way is to set up a harm minimisation strategy. This approach involves developing measures to curb problem gambling and reduce the social harms caused by gambling. But it’s not enough to pass a law to ban all gambling. Ultimately, society should consider the benefits and risks associated with gambling.
Types of gamblers
Gamblers fall into three types: social, professional, and pathological. A problem gambler may be a mixture of all three types, or may act like both. Social gamblers typically think of gambling as a recreational activity, and they consider the cost as part of the fun. Problem gamblers may pretend to be social gamblers to justify their actions. There are also different subtypes of pathological gamblers, each with its own personality traits and needs for treatment.
Costs of problem gambling
A number of studies have attempted to estimate the economic costs of problem gambling. While it’s difficult to compare the results of different studies because of the wide range of methodological differences, there are some general trends. Costs of problem gambling are not necessarily based on money spent; instead, they are based on time, resources, and quality of life. As such, it’s difficult to estimate their real value. However, the study findings provide a framework for future studies and advance our understanding of problem gambling.