If your child is involved in gambling, you may want to start by talking to them about responsible gambling. Explain to them how the odds of winning are very low. Set limits on how much they can spend on gambling. Monitor their devices and watch out for gambling apps. Talk to a mental health professional or psychologist if you are concerned. Gambling helplines and support groups exist in most communities. You can also reach out to these resources online. Here are some tips to help prevent gambling addiction among teenagers.
Several types of gambling impact the individual, community, and economy. Financial costs include revenues generated by gambling, changes in economic activity, and infrastructure costs. Social care costs are associated with problem gambling. These costs are often invisible to the individual gambler. However, they can become visible when the person is unable to control their behavior. Gambling impacts on the environment also require public resources to help those affected. It also affects the quality of life in the community, as problems caused by gambling can affect a community’s environment and ecosystem.
Some research has also suggested that gambling can have an effect on the individual’s significant other. Although petty theft by family members and illicit lending are common, violence associated with gambling is a more severe form of interpersonal harm. Statistically, pathological gamblers have higher odds of experiencing dating and marital violence than nongamblers. Some reports have even linked pathological gambling to homicide in the family. It is possible that gambling is associated with an underlying mental health disorder or is just another form of entertainment.
