Gambling is when a person places something of value, like money, on an uncertain outcome – often at the risk of losing that same money. It’s an activity that can be found in many different forms, from lotteries and sports betting to card games and casino machines. There’s a strong psychological component to gambling, and it can be addictive. People who gamble can suffer from problems in their personal lives, work and relationships. It can also be costly, leading to debt or even homelessness.

Problem gambling can also affect the wider community. It can lead to a loss of employment or a decline in performance at work, cause family and friends stress, impact the quality of life and cause health problems. It can even put people in contact with the law and lead to suicide. There are a number of factors that can contribute to a person developing a gambling habit, including age, gender and where they live. It’s important to know what the signs are of a problem, and seek help if needed.

Social impacts are non-monetary and difficult to measure, and have therefore often been ignored in calculations. This paper proposes a methodological framework for measuring and reporting on these impacts, following the definition of Walker and Williams [32]. These social impacts can be broken down into classes: individual, interpersonal and society/community level. The former are invisible to the gambler, while the latter involve other people and may be seen as a cost to society as a whole.