Gambling
- Types of Gamblers
- Rates of Gambling
- Risk Factors for Problem Gambling
- Problem Gambling, Alcohol and Drugs
- Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
- Additional Resources on Gambling
Types of Gamblers
The National Research Council has described the following continuum of gambling behavior:
Level 0 Gambling
This group has never gambled; they have never bought a lottery ticket or put a
quarter in a slot machine.
Level 1 Gambling
These are social gamblers. The majority of adults fit into this category.
Although there are a variety of gamblers that fit in this category -- some buy
lottery tickets each week while others spend $300 in the casino every other
month -- their gambling does not result in significant problems.
In a six-year study of Minnesota young adults, 60% of youth were classified as "resistors," or Level 1 Gamblers. However, all of these young people participated in some form of gambling during the six years. Young adults can participate in gambling activities but successfully avoid excessive or addictive behaviors. (Winters et al., 2005)
Level 2 Gambling
These are "at-risk" gamblers. These individuals gamble so much that they have
experienced gambling-related problems. Because of the range of problems this
group might experience, the description of Level 2 gambling can be
controversial. These gamblers may be criticized for their gambling, feel guilty
about their gambling, borrow money to gamble, or may have gambling debts.
Level 3 Gambling
These are pathological gamblers, they have experienced significant problems as a
result of their gambling. This can also be called compulsive gambling or problem
gambling. For this group, gambling problems interfere with daily life. These
gamblers might lose their entire paycheck, put relationships at risk to gamble,
or lose their job or home because of gambling.
Rates of Gambling
College Student Gambling Involvement During the Prior 12 Months: Minnesota Institute of Public Health
Males N=598 |
Females N=583 |
Total N=1197 | |
| Any | 92% |
85% |
88% |
| Machines a | 71% |
66% |
68% |
| Lottery b | 68% |
60% |
64% |
| Cards at a Casino | 56% |
26% |
40% |
| Cards with Friends c | 55% |
27% |
41% |
| Bet on Sports d | 56% |
18% |
37% |
- a) Played slot machines, poker machines, or other gambling machines.b) Played the numbers (including scratch tabs, lottery, daily numbers).c) Played cards for money with friends. d) Bet on the outcome of a sporting event.
Twelve percent of college students reported gambling during the past year at least weekly or daily, and proportionally more men (19%) than women (5%) did so at this level. Betting on games of skill (such as an athletic contest) was the category most often played weekly/daily by college men (7%); for college women, lottery playing (2%) was the activity with the highest percentage of weekly/daily involvement.
Risk Factors for Problem Gambling
The college years may represent a heightened risk for developing gambling problems because this period is associated with a wide range of at-risk behaviors, including heavy use of alcohol (Windle, 1991), and the legal age for gambling is 18 in many states." (Winters, 2006)
- Problem gambling is higher among adolescents and young adults than older adults.
- With the exception of Asian Americans, all other ethnic groups have a significantly higher rate of problem gambling than Caucasians.
- African Americans are overrepresented among problem gamblers.
- Low income individuals are overrepresented among problem gamblers; however, this may be the result of less education.
- Level 2 and 3 gamblers were more likely to be divorced or separated.
- Being male is a risk factor for problem gambling.
Research has found that the typical problem gambler is male, a weekly or daily user of alcohol or illicit drugs, someone with a relatively high disposable income, and someone who had been raised by a parent with a gambling problem. Variables that have not been found to be associated with problem gambling include amount of credit card debt, GPA, and year in school. To learn more, visit the Minnesota Institute of Public Health Common Signs of Problem Gambling.
Problem Gambling, Alcohol, and Drugs
- College students who were binge drinkers during their senior year of high school are more likely to gamble.
- Students who gamble are more likely to report using alcohol.
- Students who gamble are more likely to have used illicit drugs in the last year.
- Students who gamble are more likely to report binge drinking in the past two weeks. (LaBrie et al., 2003)
Although early problem gambling is a risk factor for later problem gambling, being at risk for problem gambling does not reliably predict problem gambling (Winters et al., 2005). In other words, college students who gamble are not necessarily destined to be lifelong problem gamblers.
Warning Signs of Problem Gambling
The following are criteria for problem gambling:
- Preoccupied with gambling.
- Needs to gamble with increasingly larger amounts of money.
- Repeated unsuccessful efforts to cut down or stop gambling.
- Restless or irritable with attempting to reduce gambling.
- Gambles to escape problems or relieve negative mood.
- "Chases" lost money; returns to gambling to get even.
- Lies to others to conceal extent of gambling.
- Commits illegal acts to support gambling.
- Jeopardizes or loses important relationships or jobs because of gambling.
- Relies on others to relieve financial problems caused by gambling.
Additional Resources on Gambling
- Gamblers
Anonymous
- The Minnesota Compulsive Gambling Hotline 1-800-437-3641
-
Online toolkit for changing one’s gambling behavior
-
NCAA Sports Wagering
“The NCAA opposes all forms of legal and illegal sports wagering, which has the potential to undermine the integrity of sports contests and jeopardizes the welfare of student-athletes and the intercollegiate athletics community.”
-
Minnesota Institute of Public Health
- National Center for Responsible Gambling