Gambling is an activity in which you place a bet on the outcome of an event. It can be as simple as placing a bet on your favourite football team to win, or more complex such as playing a scratchcard. The outcome of the gamble is determined by the odds – which are the chances that you will win – and the amount of money you can win, or lose.

While some people gamble for entertainment, others are more concerned about the social and financial benefits of gambling. These can include an adrenaline rush, the chance to meet new friends and a way of escaping stress or worries. But there are a number of risks associated with gambling that can lead to harmful behaviours and addiction.

The good news is that help is available if you are worried about gambling. Speak to your GP or visit NHS support for information and advice. In extreme circumstances, gambling problems can lead to suicidal thoughts and feelings – if this is the case, seek urgent medical attention or call 999.

A lot of people have no problem with gambling and enjoy it for fun, but some have a serious underlying issue. A small percentage of people who start gambling develop a gambling disorder, which is described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as an impulsive, compulsive and often recurrent pattern of gambling that causes distress or impairment. This is particularly likely to happen among young people, those with low incomes and men – up to 5% of adolescents and adults who gamble develop a disorder.

In addition to the harms associated with gambling, there are also positive effects. For example, gambling can be an effective tool to help people manage their finances if it is done within sensible limits. It can also be a useful source of revenue for local communities, and can provide an alternative form of entertainment to traditional sports events and cinemas.

But the negative and addictive impacts of gambling can be more severe than you might think – and can affect other people as well as you. Taking into account the full range of costs and benefits is important when making decisions about how to regulate gambling. The most accurate way to assess the impacts of gambling is by using a public health approach. This involves looking at the whole picture, including the health and social costs and benefits of different gambling policies.

The personal and interpersonal impacts of gambling are mainly non-monetary in nature, and they concern those closest to the gambler: family, friends and work colleagues. They may be indirect, for example, if gambling causes financial problems such as unpaid bills and debts that accumulate and spiral out of control. More direct impacts can be seen at the community/societal level, such as the effects of increased debt and unemployment – or even homelessness if the debts are not paid off. These impacts can be hidden and difficult to quantify, but are nevertheless significant.