RESEARCH CONCERNING GAMBLING IS SCATTERED AND SPARSE, BUT THIS REVIEW GATHERS THE EXISTING LITERATURE, AND EXAMINES FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO GAMBLING. THIS IS DONE IN ORDER TO DRAW PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS ON GAMBLING BEHAVIOR SO THAT SOME REGULATORY SUGGESTIONS CAN BE MADE. THE REVIEW HAS CONCENTRATED UPON THREE MAIN AREAS OF INQUIRY: (1) AN EXAMINATION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF GAMBLING AND OF THE EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE EXISTENCE, NATURE AND EXTENT OF ANY ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES; (2) A REVIEW OF RESEARCH TO DISCOVER WHICH FACTORS DETERMINE THE INITIAL DECISION TO GAMBLE AND THE CONTINUOUS GAMBLING BEHAVIOR; AND (3) A DISCUSSION OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS AND OTHER INFORMATION REVIEWED FOR THE REGULATION OF GAMBLING, FOR THE FORMULATION OF POLICY, AND FOR FUTURE RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT, ON THE BASIS OF AVAILABLE RESEARCH, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SHOW THAT MODERATE GAMBLING HAS ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS. SOME SORTS OF GAMBLING, PARTICULARLY OFF-COURSE BETTING AND GAMING, APPEAR TO LEND THEMSELVES EASILY TO HEAVY INVOLVEMENT. FACTORS DETERMINING THE CREATION AND SIZE OF THE GROUP OF HEAVY GAMBLERS ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE SECOND PART OF THE REVIEW. GAMBLING BEHAVIOR IS DISCUSSED ACCORDING TO THESE ISSUES: THE DECISION TO PARTICIPATE, THE DEGREE OF PARTICIPATION, AND THE MEANS OF REGULATION. ECONOMIC MOTIVATION, EXPECTATION, SITUATIONAL DETERMINANTS, AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN THE GAMBLER ARE STUDIED AS FACTORS IN INITIATING THE DECISION TO GAMBLE. A PRELIMINARY MODEL OF GAMBLING BEHAVIOR IS DESCRIBED AND SOME IMPLICATIONS ARE DRAWN FOR POLICY, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF RECRUITMENT AND EXPLOITATION. MANIPULATION OF STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GAMBLING AND REGULATION OF ECOLOGICAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE RECOMMENDED CONTROL MEASURES. FACTORS DETERMINING THE CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN GAMBLING ARE REVIEWED. THE ROLE OF STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS, THE ROLE OF LEARNING, THE APPLICATION OF LEARNING THEORY PRINCIPLES TO GAMBLING BEHAVIOR, AND THE ANALYSIS OF GAMBLING BEHAVIOR IN A REAL-LIFE SETTING ARE DISCUSSED. THE BASIC ASSUMPTION FROM THE RESEARCH LITERATURE IS THAT EXCESSIVE GAMBLING IS RELATED TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF GAMBLING TAKING PLACE IN A COMMUNITY, SUCH THAT THE LATTER DETERMINES THE EXTENT OF THE FORMER. IMPLICATIONS OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS ON FUTURE REGULATIONS ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF RESEARCH TO POLICYMAKING IS CONSIDERED. THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR BETTER INFORMATION ON GAMBLING, AND THE AVAILABLE DATA SHOULD BE USED MORE EFFECTIVELY. A SOCIAL MONITORING SERVICE SHOULD BE INITIATED. AN AUTHOR AND SUBJECT INDEX ARE INCLUDED IN THE REVIEW, AND A LISTING OF REFERENCES AND PUBLICATIONS IS PROVIDED. (DAG)