Why Screen for a Gambling Disorder?
- Gambling Disorder leads to financial, emotional, social, occupational, and physical harms.
- Gambling Disorder affects about 1% of the general population, and subclinical past year gambling-related problems affect 2-3% of the general population.
- As much as 10% of primary care patients report lifetime gambling disorder, and an additional 5% report lifetime subclinical problems.
- Many cases of gambling disorder go undetected, due to limited resources to assess the problem.
- People with gambling-related problems are more likely to smoke, consume excessive amounts of caffeine, have more emergency department visits, and be obese.
- Although nearly 50% of people who have gambling problems are in treatment for “something,” national studies have failed to identify anyone who currently reports being in treatment.
Who Should Screen for a Gambling Disorder?
- Addiction service providers
- Mental health service providers
- Physicians (e.g., primary care and emergency medicine
- Gerontologists
- Pediatricians
- Educators
- Youth community leaders
- Employee Assistance Plan service providers
- Veterans groups
What to Expect at a Gambling Disorder Screening?
- Complete a brief Gambling Disorder screen
- Discuss the results of a positive screen with a health provider
- Receive educational materials on Gambling Disorder
- Learn where to go for additional help and access to resources
Problem Gambling FAQS
What is Problem Gambling?
Problem gambling – or gambling addiction – includes all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits. Common signs of problem gambling include: an increasing obsession with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, “chasing” losses, and loss of control as the gambling behavior continues despite increasingly negative consequences. In extreme cases, problem gambling can result in financial ruin, legal problems, loss of career and family, or even suicide.
Isn't Problem Gambling Just a Financial Issue?
No. Problem gambling is an emotional problem that has financial consequences. If you pay all of a problem gambler’s debts, the person will still be a problem gambler. The real problem is the uncontrollable obsession they have with gambling.
What Types of People Become Problem Gamblers?
Anyone who gambles can develop problems if they are unaware of the risks and gamble irresponsibly. When gambling behavior interferes with finances, relationships, and the workplace, a serious problem already exists.
How Can a Person be Addicted to Something That Isn't a Substance?
Although no substance is ingested, the problem gambler experiences the same effect from gambling as someone else might get from using drugs or alcohol. Gambling alters a person’s mood, giving them a temporary “high” especially after a win. But just as tolerance develops to drugs or alcohol, the gambler will need more and more of the gambling experience to achieve the same “high” as before. This leads to a gambling addiction as the gambler finds they can no longer resist the urge to gamble.
How Much Money do You Have to Lose Before Gambling Becomes a Problem?
The amount of money lost or won does not determine when gambling becomes a problem. Gambling becomes a problem when it causes a negative impact on any area of the individual’s life.
How Widespread is Problem Gambling in The U.S.?
2 million (1%) of U.S. adults are estimated to meet the criteria for pathological gambling in a given year. Another 4-6 million (2-3%) would be considered problem gamblers; that is, they do not meet the full criteria for pathological gambling, but meet one or more of the criteria and are experiencing problems due to their gambling behavior. Research also indicates that most adults who choose to gamble are able to do so responsibly.
Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen (BBGS) Questionnaire
To screen for potential gambling-related problems, please ask the following questions.