NCJ Number
191339
Journal
Journal of the American Medical Association Volume: 286 Issue: 2 Dated: July 11, 2001 Pages: 141-144
Editor(s)
Catherine D. DeAngelis
Date Published
2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines the growing problem of pathological gambling including its prevalence, consequences, and treatment.
Abstract
Legalized gambling grossed $50 billion in 1998, more than the motion picture industry, theme park, and music industries combined. In 1998, 86 percent of the general adult population was estimated to have gambled at some point in their lives, up from 68 percent in 1975. An increased prevalence of gambling problems has accompanied the recent rapid expansion of legalized gambling. Since significant adverse consequences often accompany gambling problems, there is a growing need to understand, identify, and develop effective treatment of individuals with gambling problems. Gambling is defined as placing something of value at risk with the hope of gaining something of greater value. This article reviews the differences between gambling, problem gambling and pathological gambling; the prevalence of problem and pathological gambling; neurobiological theories associated with pathological gambling; the adverse consequences of pathological gambling; the identification of problem and pathological gambling; and the self-help and treatment of problem and pathological gamblers.