Gambling’s detrimental effect on public health extends far beyond financial losses; it includes mental health disorders, suicide attempts, substance use problems and employment disruption – among others. These harms can have a lasting effect on individuals, their families and close associates as well as the wider community at large.
Therefore, the intersection of social and commercial determinants of gambling-related harms presents public health practitioners with complex challenges. These include prioritizing prevention, early intervention and treatment in an integrated fashion.
Problems
Gambling is a complex social, economic and health issue that impacts individuals, families and the wider community. Unlike clinical criteria for gambling disorder which must be present to access services [17], it does not necessitate specific treatment or intervention pathways in order for people to receive them [20].
Problem gambling is a public health concern as it can have detrimental effects on individuals, their families and friends, as well as the wider community. A public health approach to gambling seeks to promote population wellbeing through organized cross-sector collaboration in an effort to reduce harms caused.
Harms can range from poor work performance and financial losses, to loss of social benefits. Unfortunately, these harms are often experienced by people from lower socioeconomic groups or deprived areas and can have a long-lasting effect on individuals, their loved ones, and the community at large. Utilizing a public health approach is essential for addressing this issue at the local level in order to achieve optimal results.
Legality
Gambling can vary depending on the jurisdiction. For instance, Nevada allows most forms of gambling but certain activities like poker parties in a professional area or dogfights are prohibited and could lead to arrests for all attendees.
Over the past decade, prospective studies have begun to assess gambling’s effects on individuals, interpersonal relationships and communities/society at large. These impacts can range from social psychological effects to financial costs (Abbott et al. 2012).
These effects can have far-reaching implications for individuals, their friends and family, as well as the broader community. For instance, gambling can cause financial strain and debt accumulation that affects a gambler’s capacity to pay off debts, increasing their likelihood of bankruptcy or homelessness.
Gambling should be seen within its larger context of other harmful behaviours like alcohol, tobacco and obesity. This will enable national and local policy makers to take a ‘health in all policy’ approach and utilize the most up-to-date evidence when making future decisions in order to prevent harms caused by gambling.
Regulation
Gambling harm is a global public health crisis, impacting millions of individuals and their close relationships around the world. Problem gambling can severely disrupt personal, family, and vocational goals as well as cause significant psychological and social damages.
One of the most effective methods for combatting gambling harm is regulation. This may include age restrictions, loss limits and other policies designed to protect people from excessive or problem gambling.
Regulating gambling can also be used to generate additional revenue for the public, which in turn supports education and other public services.
In some jurisdictions, casinos must refuse service to those who show signs of intoxication and must receive appropriate training. This can help increase awareness about problem gambling and provide assistance with rehabilitation.
Though not widely publicized, gambling’s impact on public health has not received the same level of attention as other acute and chronic health conditions. Nonetheless, there are several key areas where public health systems and models could offer substantial advantages in combatting gambling harms.
Taxes
Taxes have an enormous effect on public health. Many states tax revenue generated from bingo, raffles, pull-tabs and punch boards; this can range from a flat percentage to taxes based on how much you won.
There is an extensive body of literature on tax effects on consumer behavior, health outcomes and additional revenue for health systems (Wright et al., 2017). Studies have demonstrated that sin taxes, despite their regressive character, can reduce harmful goods consumption while raising additional revenues to support healthcare expenditure and even improve health outcomes.
However, the long-term effects of sin taxes can be difficult to estimate. Human habit formation occurs gradually and taxation on consumption may take some time before it takes hold. Therefore, studies that assess the impact of a tax on consumption should be conducted over an extended period with adjustments for seasonality and socioeconomic factors.