Gambling, which has its roots in the Arabic etymology az-zahr, meaning “dice” [Treccani], is considered a recreational activity in which the primary purpose is profit, and winning or losing is largely determined by chance, with skill playing a negligible role [Ibidem]. The various forms of gambling that exist are numerous and diverse, with dice games representing the oldest practices. However, archaeological findings have suggested that some forms of gambling were related to magical rituals. Modern gambling games are essentially evolutions of these prehistoric forms [Tani, Ilari, 2016].
Today, more recent gambling games are often tied to automatic devices, such as slot machines, or electronic devices, like computers and smartphones. The development of the internet and digital technologies has allowed competent authorities to legalize gambling through the monitoring and control offered by these same technologies. As a result, online poker is legalized, while live poker is allowed only within casinos.

The Social Effects of Gambling
Gambling is a practice deeply rooted in human nature and does not appear to be limited to a specific era, social class, or culture [Savron et al., 2001]. However, the main drawback of gambling is the potential to generate addiction, compulsive behaviors, and even pathological conditions. This situation can lead to chronic resistance to the urge to gamble, with potentially severe consequences for the affected individual, their family, and their professional life.
Gambling has become widespread [Savron et al., 2001] and is considered a social emergency nowadays [Tani and Ilari, 2016]. The growing concern regarding the negative effects of gambling highlights the need to address this issue responsibly and sustainably to prevent and manage the risks associated with it.
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