The debate on gambling has largely ignored the social costs and benefits of gambling. Although studies have focused on economic costs, this does not consider the social impact of gambling. Walker and Barnett defined social costs as harms to the community that are not personal or monetary. In other words, gambling can have a positive or negative effect on society, as long as it does not negatively affect the quality of life of the people involved.
Social impacts of gambling are the result of many different factors, including the availability of gambling venues, the revenue generated by gambling, and the effectiveness of gambling policy. Gambling impact studies are important because they can compare different gambling policies and help policymakers make informed decisions. They also enable researchers to assess how different policies can reduce costs and increase benefits.
The external effects of gambling include social, economic, and health-related consequences. These consequences affect not just the individual gambler, but also the people close to them. The effects of gambling can be long-term and even change the life course of a person or entire generation. In many cases, the gambling impact is positive.
Gambling has been widely practiced throughout the United States for centuries, but has also been subject to a variety of restrictions. Federal laws and state laws limit the types of gambling allowed in the country. Moreover, the Commerce Clause power of the Congress has been used to regulate gambling in the United States. Some of these laws ban the distribution of lottery tickets among states and restrict gambling on Native American lands.
While there is much empirical research on gambling and its social impacts, most studies have primarily focused on the negative impacts. In particular, the costs related to gambling, such as addiction, have received the greatest attention. However, the positive impacts of gambling are often ignored as well, and the social benefits of gambling are often underestimated.