No matter who you are – casino, player or regulator – ethical considerations are fundamental to any gambling business. Our research has identified principles that distinguish wrongful or unreasonable gambling from acceptable activity; these standards apply to gamblers, businesses and regulators alike.

Due to the recent Supreme Court decision allowing states to legalize sports gambling, it is essential to consider how this risk-behavior industry is being framed. State governments, sports leagues and teams, gambling operators, as well as media companies all play a role in shaping how this activity is presented.

Legality

Gambling is an activity in which someone stakes money or something of value on a contest or game. Typically, it involves financial bets; however, gambling may also include fantasy sports, cockfighting, or dice rolls.

Gambling in the United States is typically regulated by state and federal law. These statutes prohibit certain forms of gambling, restrict the means and types of gaming, as well as oversee international and interstate gaming activity.

Additionally, the federal government has passed laws restricting gambling activities and banning it on Native American land. These regulations aim to shield people from potential risks associated with gambling while creating a positive social atmosphere for this industry.

Though most Americans support legal gambling, a significant minority still believes it to be morally wrong. According to a recent Gallup poll, 71% of respondents said gambling is acceptable from an ethical perspective.

Addictions

Addiction is a mental disorder that causes significant harm to individuals. It involves craving for something, lack of control over its use and continued involvement despite negative consequences.

Addiction is most often defined as drug abuse, alcohol consumption and nicotine dependence. While these substances can produce intense feelings of euphoria, they also have detrimental physical and psychological consequences that last a long time.

Many individuals with substance abuse disorders develop tolerance to the drugs, meaning they need larger doses in order to get the same effects. This is an entirely normal part of recovery that can be managed through therapy.

Gambling addictions can be very challenging to break free of, affecting one’s finances, relationships and overall well-being.

Gambling or shopping addictions often go undetected by family and friends out of shame, but support groups provide a safe space to open up about these difficulties. Members can share experiences, learn new coping techniques, and find motivation during their recovery journey.

Social impact

Gambling has a profound effect on those who partake in it, as well as those who do not. This includes family members, friends, and even the gambler themselves.

Gambling’s effects can be quantified using a conceptual model that divides costs and benefits into three classes: financial, labor and health, and well-being. These effects are felt on all levels: individual, interpersonal and societal (Fig. 1).

Individual impacts have personal effects for gamblers themselves, while external effects reach beyond interpersonal and society/community boundaries and affect other people. Negative consequences such as bankruptcy, crime, homelessness and other social costs can also have a lasting effect.

Ethics

Gambling raises many ethical issues that have been debated for decades. On this page, we take a closer look at some of these concerns and how they might influence regulatory decisions around the world.

Ethics are the principles that guide our decisions and actions. Although they may vary depending on the context, they usually adhere to some core themes.

For instance, if someone gave you money with the express intent that it be used for gambling, that would be unethical. Likewise, borrowing money or receiving a gift and then using it for this purpose would also be unethical.

Studies on the morality of gambling have been conducted. While these analyses offer valuable insights, they often neglect essential philosophical questions that are crucial in comprehending its ethical dimensions.