Gambling is a popular leisure activity in most countries. However, it has a negative impact on society. A few people are motivated by a desire to win money. Others use gambling to escape problems. This has created an economic strain on households.

Problem gambling is a persistent gambling behavior, which can have long-term effects. It can also affect an individual’s social life. Symptoms can start in adolescence or adulthood. There are several types of therapy used to treat gambling disorders. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, lists Gambling Disorder alongside other addictive behaviors.

Gambling impacts are categorized into three categories: personal, interpersonal, and community/society level. These categories are referred to as the PHIGam model. In this model, the social, economic, and psychological impacts of gambling are structuralized.

At the community/society level, the external impacts of gambling are primarily monetary. These include general costs and benefits, long-term costs, and benefits related to problem gambling.

At the personal level, most of the impacts are nonmonetary. However, some studies have attempted to quantify the positive impacts of gambling on gamblers using a consumer surplus method.

Gambling has been a controversial topic in the United States for centuries. The laws against gambling have changed over time. During the late twentieth century, attitudes towards gambling softened. While the prevalence of problem gambling varies by country, it is estimated that between 1 and 4 percent of the adult population may be problem gamblers.