Is Gambling a Social Problem?

Is Gambling a Social Problem? Gambling is an act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning. It also involves a significant risk as the material good (usually money) wagered in the game may be lost if the player does not win. Common forms of gambling include cockfighting (which usually results in the death of one or both roosters), casinos (which has become a profitable business), slot machines (convenient for those who want to play individually), bookmaking (often used for predicting the winners of sports competitions), and caracruz (simplest form of gambling which has existed since ancient history). There is an ongoing debate among social scientists, psychologists, business lobby groups, and others on the benefits and dangers of gambling. Some anti-gambling social activists argue that gambling is a serious social problem, while others argue that gambling problem is a problem of certain individuals who suffer from psychological ills and that in certain circumstances gambling on the contrary is a significant source of income (for example, for Native American tribes). Gambling Is a Social Problem Gambling is associated with a range of social issues and thus needs to be designated as a social problem. According to research on the topic, there is a correlation between various social problems and gambling. For example, Hardoon et al., point out in their study that gambling problem among adolescents they studied stemmed from the lack of healthy familial and peer support, drug use problems, behavioral problems, problems related to family issues, and the parental gambling problems as well as their substance abuse. According to Hardoon et al., there is a significant familial contribution to gambling problems. Many of their respondents said that their elder siblings had a strong influence in their decisions to experience gambling. Many of the respondents who suffered from gambling problems said that their parents themselves were problem gamblers. The study by

Cited: Cornell, Kalt et al., American Indian Gaming Policy and Its Socio-Economic Effects. Cambridge, MA: Economic Resource Group, Inc., 1998. Print.     Hardoon, Karen et al., “Psychological Variables Associated With Adolescent Gambling.” Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 18.2 (2004): 170-179. Print.   Larimer, Mary & Neighbors, Clayton. “Normative Misperception and the Impact of Descriptive and Injunctive Norms on College Student Gambling.” Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 17.3 (2003): 235-243. Print.   Momper, Sandra. “Implications of American Indian Gambling for Social Work Research and Practice.” Social Work 55.2 (2010): 139-146. Print.   Seligman, Dan. “In Defense of Gambling.” Forbes 171.13 (2003): 86-90. Print.