Types of Gambling

Youth Gambling

Youth gambling is gambling under the state's legal age. Youth gambling is illegal, but it is happening. In fact, it's estimated that up to 80% of teens have gambled and that this behavior can begin as young as age ten. Evidence suggests that the younger a person begins to gamble, the more likely he/she is to have a problem with gambling.

Why should we be concerned about youth gambling?

• Some would claim because it's illegal or immoral or both.
• Others would point to the obvious fact that most kids don't have access to lots of cash, so they may be stealing to cover their losses.

The research shows that the earlier people begin gambling, the more likely they are to have problems with it later in life. To illustrate:

• A study by Ken Winters in Minnesota found that 60% of high school students who are problem gamblers had gambled in the sixth grade or before.
• Another study found that just under half of juvenile problem gamblers began gambling before the age of 10.

 

Gambling may be considered a "gateway" to other high-risk behaviors:

• In 2000, it was reported through several studies that youth gambling in the U.S. preceded their use of cigarettes, hard liquor and marijuana.

 

In Louisiana, adolescents in juvenile detention are roughly four times as likely to have a serious gambling problem as their peers. Delaware and other states have found that adolescent pathological gambling is associated with alcohol and drug use, truancy, low grades, problematic gambling in parents, and illegal activities to finance gambling. A survey of 8th graders in 2002 in Delaware found the following troubling connections:
Those students that reported gambling were:

• Over 50% more likely to drink alcohol.
• More than twice as likely to binge drink.
• More than three times as likely to use marijuana.
• Three times as likely to use other illegal drugs.
• Almost three times as likely to get in trouble with the police.
• Three times as likely to be involved in a gang fight.
• Almost three times as likely to steal or shoplift.

Source: Adapted from Delaware Council on Gambling Problems, Inc. Newsletter, Vol XVI, No 5. Mar/Apr 2001.

A review of studies by Jacobs, 2000, found that in the past ten years the number of youth reporting serious gambling problems increased by 50% (from 10% to 15%).

Adult Social Gambling typically occurs with friends or colleagues and lasts for a limited period of time, with predetermined acceptable losses. Most adults gamble for recreation and do not have a problem gambling. However, an estimated 7.9 million adults are either problem or pathological gamblers. ⁱ

Problem Gambling occurs when fewer than five of the diagnostic criteria for 312.31 Pathological Gambling, noted below, are present.

"Problem gambling is gambling to the extent that it causes emotional, family, legal, financial or other problems for the gambler and the people around the gambler. Problem gambling can get worse over time, and gambling problems can range from mild to severe." ⁱⁱ

Pathological Gambling. The essential feature of Pathological Gambling is persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior that disrupts personal, family, or vocational pursuits. Five or more of the following behaviors are present for a diagnosis of pathological gambling:

• is preoccupied with gambling (e.g., preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble)
• needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement
• has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling
• is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling
• gambles as a way for escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.d., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)
• after losing money gambling, often returns another day to get even (chasing one's losses)
• lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling
• has committed illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance gambling
• has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of gambling
• relies on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling

Source: Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4^th Edition. DSM-IV. 3112.31 Pathological Gambling. American Psychiatric Association

ⁱ Problem and Pathological Gambling. National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report. 1999.
ⁱⁱ Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions.