gambling addiction

Question 1

gambling defined

Answer 1

• Gambling is the staking of money (or something of financial value) on a future event
  on which the outcome is unknown (Griffiths, 1995).
• Gambling is not a unitary phenomenon (Griffiths & Calado, 2022).
  Perkins (1950) identified four types of gambling:
  1. Gaming: Exchange of money during the activity (e.g. fruit machine, roulette)
  2. Betting: Staking money on a future event (e.g. horse racing)
  3. Lotteries: Distribution of money by lot (e.g. football pools)
  4. Speculation: Gambling on the stock market (e.g. investing in shares)

Question 2

prevalence

Answer 2

(Dellosa & Browne, 2024; Gambling Commission, 2023; 2024)
* UK Adult: - 0.5%
- 3.8% ‘at-risk’
- 7% harmed by others’ gambling
* UK Aged 11-17:
- 1.5%
- 1.9% ‘at risk’

• Europe: 1.3 %
• World: 1.9%
• Higher prevalence in young
  adults (18-35), specifically males

Question 3

gambling in the DSM-5

Answer 3

• Persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behaviour as indicated by four (or
  more) of the following (mapped onto the components model of addiction [Griffiths,
  2005, 2019]):
  1) 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) (salience).
  2) Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money to achieve the desired
  excitement (tolerance/mood modification).
  3) Has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling (relapse).
  4) Is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop gambling (withdrawal).
  5) Gambles as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g.,
  feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression) (mood modification).
  6) After losing money gambling, often returns another day to get even (“chasing” losses).
  7) Lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with
  gambling (conflict).
  8) Has jeopardised or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career
  opportunity because of gambling (conflict).
  9) Relies on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation caused by
  gambling (conflict)