What Causes Problem Gambling
Q. How extensive is problem gambling and what are the consequences?
More specifically, gambling addiction may be caused by a mental health condition known as obsessive-compulsive disorder. The obsessive part of the condition refers to a person thinking obsessively about a single subject; in this case, gambling.
A. A recent research study was done by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, in collaboration with three other research groups, on behalf of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. The research group reported that:
What Causes an Addiction to Gambling? Many factors can contribute to a gambling addiction, including desperation for money, the desire to experience thrills and highs, the social status associated with being a successful gambler, and the entertaining atmosphere of the mainstream gambling scene. But problems can arise when an increased desire to take risks causes harm. This includes problem gambling, which is estimated to affect as many as 1% of the population.
' Based upon criteria developed by the American Psychiatric Association, we estimate that about 2.5 million adults are pathological gamblers and another 3 million adults should be considered problem gamblers. Extending these criteria more broadly, 15 million (American) adults are at risk for problem gambling, and about 148 million are low-risk gamblers (about 129 million adults have never gambled).'
'……Pathological and problem gamblers are more likely than other gamblers or non-gamblers to have been on welfare, declared bankruptcy, and to have been arrested or incarcerated.'
What Causes A Gambling Problem
'…….Pathological and problem gamblers in the United States cost society approximately $5 billion per year and an additional $40 billion in lifetime costs for productivity reductions, social services, and creditor losses. However, these calculations are inadequate to capture the intra-familial costs of divorce and family disruption associated with problem and pathological gambling.'