The “Science” of Problem Gambling

by N D Grover

The reported data regarding the prevalence of gambling addiction and problem gambling are sometimes contradictory and vary significantly from study to study. Unfortunately, this is a problem when looking at the “scientific” data that is reported for any particular issue and one has to use some skepticism in accepting any data that is reported that is outside of what the logical expectation should be, varies significantly from the majority of data that has been collected or is reported by an entity that has a vested interest in the acceptance of the data by the public. For example, regarding gambling, negative or positive data reported by the gambling industry will be significantly different than data reported by those who totally oppose legalized gambling.

Also, data that is reported may have been collected several years before it is reported. The availability of legalized gambling, marketing by the gambling industry and public acceptance of gambling as an “entertainment” option has changed significantly in the last few years.  The data that is currently being collected will most probably show very different trends in the number of people who gamble,the type of people who are having problems and the type of gambling experiences these people are having.

According to widely publicized data, between 0-100% of those who gamble:

• gamble addictively
• are men, women or children
• are between the age of 0 and 200
• come from one of seven continents
• smoke
• use drugs
• abuse their spouses or children
• own a tiara
• killed ants with a magnifying glass as a child
• commit suicide
• drive a Range Rover
• file bankruptcy

The above bit of silliness is to make the point that simply the acquisition of statistical data may or may not be of benefit or indicate the factors that help address the issue of gambling addiction. While 40% of people who gamble may smoke, this does not necessarily indicate that smoking is actually a factor in the development of gambling addiction.

With more seriousness, regardless of the source of the data, the majority of studies conclude that:

• Gambling can be addictive for a significant number of people.
• The availability of opportunities to gamble increases the likelihood of problem gambling.
• Youth are more like to gamble problematically.
• The “typical” gambler is no longer a middle aged male, excitement gambler.
• The possibility of developing problem gambling is not limited by socioeconomic background, age, gender, ethnic history, family history, intelligence, marital status, social support systems, religious training, education or geographic location.  Although the presence or absence of certain of the above attributes in any specific individual may increase the likelihood of that individual’s acceptance of gambling as a “recreational” past time, none singularly or in combination eliminates the capacity for the individual to gamble problematically or indicates that the particular individual will develop problematic gambling.

While accumulating statistical data is important in order to determine the need for social programs to address the problems created by gambling, until the gambling industry is required, either by public pressure or governmental regulation, to change the methods in which they entice gamblers to gamble compulsively, the number of people who experience problems with gambling will continue to rise.

Social programs to meet the needs of those who have developed problems due to gambling are necessary and very important, however the real emphasis should be on preventing or minimizing gambling addiction to begin with.  This will only be accomplished when the gambling industry is held to the same standards as other industries that are required to provide the safest product available, be accountable for the harm that their product causes and pay for remediation of the harm that they cause to the (social) environment. As long as the gambling industry is allowed to develop more and more addictive games, market without limitation, is not held to truth in advertising standards or held accountable in any way for the harm that their products cause, the number of problem gamblers will continue to increase.

Unfortunately, there will never be a time that problem gambling is totally eliminated, even if the legalized gambling industry shut down completely today.  The efforts to minimize the negative consequences of legalized gambling will only be accomplished when the gambling industry itself becomes immersed in finding ways to minimize the harm that their products cause instead of pouring billions of dollars into developing new products and methods to increase the compulsivity of their patrons. Research dollars might be better spent determining the most effective ways to decrease the problems associated with legalized gambling, instead of being almost singularly focused on determining the demographic patterns of those who experience problems due to legalized gambling.

Copyright 2007

All rights remain with the author