Gambling can be a fun and exciting way to pass time. It can also be dangerous and addictive. If you have a problem with gambling, there are several things that you can do to get help and stop it.
The Economic Benefits of Gambling
Gambling provides a source of income for a variety of commercial establishments, including casinos and racetracks. This income is not only spent on the gambler, but is also paid to suppliers, as well as to people outside the community who work in the gambling industry, which can result in a ‘leak’ of benefits into the local economy (Grinols, 2004; Kendall, 2011).
The Economic Costs of Gambling
In most cases, the economic effects of gambling are difficult to assess, due to a lack of rigorous data collection and analysis. The studies that do exist are generally either gross impact or descriptive in nature.
These studies are often region-specific and tend to be anecdotal. They usually focus on the positive economic impacts of gambling, such as increased tourism and lower unemployment rates.
There is a growing body of research on the negative effects of gambling, such as the social costs that may result from pathological gambling. Some of these research reports are published in news accounts and bankruptcy court opinions, but are rarely backed up by more formal studies. They often describe the effect of gambling on debt, but they fail to provide an objective assessment of the economic impact of pathological gambling.