Gambling is an activity in which wealth changes hands, primarily on the basis of chance with some element of risk to the gambler. It encompasses a wide range of activities, from betting and fruit machines to casino games, scratchcards, and card games. In gambling, the motives for winning are enjoyment and excitement, social interaction and competition and a desire for gain. In comparison, productive efforts, useful skills and responsible investment are not considered to be part of the gambler’s motivations.

Vulnerability to develop a gambling disorder increases with age, and it is most common among people with low incomes who have more to lose than those with higher incomes. In addition, men are more likely to develop a gambling disorder than women, and young people (up to the age of 25) are particularly vulnerable.

Gambling has many negative impacts, including those at the personal, interpersonal and community/society levels. These impacts are not necessarily monetary in nature and can include effects such as financial strain, debt, and the effects of gambling on families. Moreover, these impacts can have long-term and even life-changing consequences. Therefore, it is important to study gambling in a multidisciplinary context to evaluate the impact and its causes. It is also essential to develop a common methodology for measuring social impacts, as advocated by Walker and Williams [32]. This article reviews the literature on the health risks of gambling and discusses screening strategies for problem or pathological gambling.