It is not only people with problem gambling that experience harms from gambling. Those who gamble at a lower risk level can also experience harms. Recent research has captured gambling harms on a continuum ranging from mild to severe. In this article, the authors propose that gambling harms can be divided into three categories. Harm items in the first category may simply reflect substitution effects when people choose one activity over another. For example, people may choose to gamble and thus have less spending for other recreational activities. Harm items in the second category reflect opportunity costs when people prioritize gambling over important life commitments. For example, late bills payments because of gambling. Harm items in the third category clearly show a reduced quality of life, such as poor health and relationship conflict. The authors discuss the implications for pubic policy and research.
