In India, most of the gambling activities are banned by the virtue of

Public Gambling act, 1864 or any other state enactment. But, before
moving ahead to discussion, meaning of the gambling has to be
contextualise. Generally, gambling understood as ‘Game of Chance’
where there is risk factor is involved. It is different from the games
which are based on skill or where the outcome is not determine by the
chance but by skill. List II Entry 34 of the constitution defines
Gambling as:

“Gambling’ includes any activity or undertaking whose determination

is controlled or influenced by chance or accident and any activity or
undertaking which is entered into or undertaken with consciousness of
the risk of winning or losing (eg, prize competitions, a wagering
contract) ... where there is no actual transfer of goods but only
payment or receipt of the difference according to the market price,
which varies from the contract price

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF GAMBLING:

There are various negative consequences related to the gambling. The data
reviewed here to showcase the menace is exists from international perspective.
The author here is not arguing for complete ban on the Gambling. Every coin
has two sides, but particularly in Indian context, the positive economic benefit
of gambling outnumbers the social costs relating to it. It may be argued that the
economic benefit in turn benefit the social outcome in long run. However, this
cycle is vicious.

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS :

Gambling, such as other addiction, becomes a predominant behaviour in human

psychology. This is also called as “Problem Gambling”, “Gambling Addicts”,
“Compulsive Gambling.” This disorder is impulse control, cannot control even
at the substantial cost of something more important. According to a study by the
Emotional Neuroscience Centre in Massachusetts, Monetary reward in a
gambling-like experiment produces brain activation very similar to that
observed in a cocaine addict receiving an infusion of cocaine .This study reveals
that risk factor is predominant in pathological gambler. Pathological gamblers
persisted despite having negative consequences of the same, such persistence is
related to insensitiveness to the punishment for loss or hypersensitivity to the
reward associated with infrequent wins. This psychological problem is the root
cause to the other social problems.

SOCIAL AND INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS : Social problem of playing

“THE GAME OF CHANCE” is at a much broader level that we
think. It leads to destruction of masses at a greater level. Any
person who is addicted to this will try to win everything but at
last will end up after losing everything and is not able to use
hard earned money or property properly. The person who is
close to that person will also try that game once & then if he
wins he/she will be addicted to it. Because of this game many
people end up losing their money,property,vehicles etc.

FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND CRIME : Financial problems and crimes are

the most immediate problem of a pathological gambler. Since pathological
gambler suffer from insensitivity to punishment or hypersensitivity to reward,
he incapable of understanding the nature and consequences of his act. As access
to money becomes more limited, gamblers often resort to crime in order to pay
debts, appease bookies, maintain appearances, and garner more money to
gamble.25 A number of study done on the behavioural aspect of pathological
gambler found that the disorder directly contribute to the crimes such as fraud,
forgery, robbery, theft

It leads to bankruptcy and many people

also take loan with higher interest rate for playing gambling
and later if they will not able to pay that amount the will
commit suicide.

FACT

Despite having serious negative socio-economic implication of gambling,

various states continuous to legalise gambling in India; as it is a major source of
revenue in some states. As per recent data released by the government of Kerala
total annual sales of lottery in Kerala has grown from Rs. 557 Crores to Rs.
5696 Crores.29 As per the statement of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy
expected turnover is US $911.30 Punjab Government also recently announced
the move to increase paper lottery draw and propose horse-betting in a bid to
bolster the fiscal health of the state.31 Meanwhile state where lottery is ban
such as Karnataka considering the request from various stakeholder to lift the
ban on lottery as government losing about 10,000 crores of revenue. It is one
things that legalize gambling comes with certain economic benefits that boost
up the GDP of the states, but such a boost up is a quantitative measure. The
social costs related to it far outnumber the economic benefits from it. Hence, the
qualitative measure to increase the welfare of the people must give way to the
quantitative measure of the states.