The availability of gambling products, particularly in the form of EGMs, casino games and online gaming, is increasing rapidly. The ease of access to these products increases the likelihood that people will gamble. It also increases the probability that gambling will become normalised, as it is increasingly marketed and advertised in the media, on social media and through sponsorship of things like sports teams. This promotes the idea that gambling is safe, fun and acceptable for young people.
Gambling is not just a game of chance, it’s also an activity that requires planning and strategy. Players have to learn the rules of a new casino game, and then develop and implement strategies to maximise their chances of winning. This type of mental exercise is beneficial for the brain and helps prevent cognitive decline.
Regardless of whether you’re playing in a real casino or an online one, gambling involves making decisions that can have serious consequences. It’s important to recognise the signs of harm, and to seek help if you think you have a problem. There are a variety of treatments available, from family therapy to specialised psychiatric services.
While the negative effects of gambling are well documented, there is limited research on the positive impacts. Several methodological limitations have contributed to this lack of evidence. In particular, there is a shortage of large nationally representative individual-level datasets that incorporate information on gambling behaviour as well as potential harms and benefits. There is also a shortage of studies that control for unobserved factors that may confound relationships between socioeconomic status and gambling behaviours.