Gambling is often associated with negative consequences for individuals, families and society. These include financial stress, relationship problems, mental illness and even suicide. In addition, gambling harms can persist throughout a person’s lifetime and even across generations. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the need for population-wide interventions including ending advertising and promotion, centralized account registration to require those who gamble to set binding loss limits, restrictions relating to accessibility and availability (opening hours, density), and rigorous regulation.
Aside from its darker side, gambling is also a social activity that brings people together. In a world that feels increasingly isolated and virtual connection is often replaced by face-to-face interaction, casinos are one of the few places where people from all walks of life gather in public to meet, mingle and enjoy an experience. This makes gambling a great choice for older adults who may not have access to other social activities outside their home or community.
Although it’s often viewed as a guilty pleasure, gambling is actually a form of recreation that can be a way to relieve boredom or tension. It’s also a fun way to learn something new, challenge the brain and make friends. In fact, a recent study found that people who play gambling games are actually happier than those who watch TV.
There are a million hobbies and diversions in the world, and yet somehow gambling gets a bad rap. There are people who collect furry animals, who shave their heads and who clog to their heart’s content. But why is gambling stigmatized, while these others are not? It could be because it’s not seen as “productive” or “responsible.” It’s just a fun, social activity that gives people a break from the shackles of everyday life.
In a gambling establishment, there’s a sense of safety and security that isn’t always present in the rest of our lives. The calming and focused state that is induced by sitting at a slot machine or table can help to ease stress, reduce anxiety and even lower blood pressure. Plus, when you win, it’s a great feeling!
The act of gambling stimulates the brain, as you learn a game and develop strategies to try and win. This is great exercise for your mental health and can even improve your memory. It’s not just for younger generations either – elderly people who engage in gambling have been shown to have improved mental health and are less likely to be depressed than those who don’t.
It’s also been shown that people who live closer to a gambling venue are more likely to gamble. This is probably because the environment and culture in which gambling takes place influences attitudes, behaviours and risk-taking. The results of our research suggest that the best way to assess whether gambling is beneficial or harmful to a person’s well-being is to monitor their behaviour and reactions in a controlled environment. This is why our team has conducted an experiment to understand the effects of living close to a casino.