Using the conceptual model, the effects of gambling are classified as positive, negative, or mixed impacts. The negative impacts are centered on costs and benefits of gambling and are related to various aspects of societal and personal life. Several types of impacts can be distinguished, including those related to economics, labor, health, and welfare. External impacts of gambling refer to the effects of gambling on a community or society. Depending on the context, impacts of gambling can range from short-term to long-term, including impacts on small businesses, employment, crime, and tourism.
Impacts of gambling on employment
The impact of gambling on society is diverse. The consequences range from lowered productivity and economic activity to increased crime. Many of the costs of gambling are measurable, but non-monetary consequences are often overlooked. Although they are often difficult to quantify, the negative impacts of gambling on society are real, especially in areas such as employment. Additionally, gambling can lead to lowered productivity and increased costs associated with infrastructure. Nonetheless, some of these negative impacts can be offset by positive effects on society.
Impacts of gambling on crime
The effects of gambling on crime are multifaceted, ranging from personal to societal. The personal impacts include changes in personal circumstances and social connections. The community and society level impacts include monetary costs and benefits and infrastructure costs. Gambling affects a wide variety of industries, and it contributes to economic activity. On the interpersonal level, gambling impacts people’s physical and psychological health. Ultimately, gambling can cause a person to face bankruptcy and homelessness.
Impacts of gambling on tourism
Studies have shown that gambling has both positive and negative impacts on tourism. Gambling has positive effects, such as increasing tourism revenues, and negative impacts, such as increased crime. The negative effects are often harder to determine, but include factors such as the perception of increased crime and outmigration. In other words, the positive effects of gambling may outweigh the negative ones. In assessing the positive and negative effects of gambling, it is important to examine both the economic and social aspects of the industry.
Impacts of gambling on small businesses
Although there are positive and negative impacts of gambling, it is not clear which ones are more important to a given location. Positive impacts include increased tourism revenue and fewer problems associated with illegal gambling. Negative impacts include increased crime. There are three main types of gambling impacts: individual, interpersonal, and societal. Each type of impact impacts a different aspect of a community, but all have at least some of the same characteristics.
Impacts of gambling on community/society level
Many research studies have found varying degrees of impact related to gambling on a personal, interpersonal, and societal level. Gambling affects the lives of those who gamble, their family members, and their communities. These impacts are primarily negative for small businesses, and they can lead to increased inflation, lowered productivity, and high costs associated with shop rents and operating costs. But there are some positive aspects to gambling, such as the potential for increased local revenue.