Other books in the Compact Research Addictions set: Heroin Addiction Internet and Social Media Addiction Sex and Pornography Addictions Synthetic Drug Addiction *For a complete list of titles please visit www.referencepointpress.com. Gambling Addiction Christine Wilcox Addictions San Diego, CA © 2015 ReferencePoint Press, Inc. Printed in the United States For more information, contact: ReferencePoint Press, Inc. PO Box 27779 San Diego, CA 92198 www.ReferencePointPress.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, web distribution, or information storage retrieval systems—without the written permission of the publisher. Picture credits: Maury Aaseng: 32–34, 46–48, 60–61, 74–75 Thinkstock Images: 13, 17 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Wilcox, Christine. Gambling Addiction/by Christine Wilcox pages cm.--(Compact research series) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-60152-759-2 (e-book) 1. Gambling Addiction--Juvenile literature. 2. Addiction 2014037119 Contents Foreword 6 Gambling Addiction at a Glance 8 Overview 10 What Is Gambling Addiction? 21 Primary Source Quotes 28 Facts and Illustrations 31 Why Do People Become Addicted to Gambling? 35 Primary Source Quotes 42 Facts and Illustrations 45 What Are the Costs of Gambling Addiction? 49 Primary Source Quotes 56 Facts and Illustrations 59 Can Gambling Addiction Be Overcome? 62 Primary Source Quotes 70 Facts and Illustrations 73 Key People and Advocacy Groups 76 Chronology 78 Related Organizations 80 For Further Research 84 Source Notes 87 List of Illustrations 90 Index 91 About the Author 96 Foreword “Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?” —T.S. Eliot, “The Rock.” A s modern civilization continues to evolve, its ability to create, store, distribute, and access information expands exponentially. The ex- plosion of information from all media continues to increase at a phenomenal rate. By 2020 some experts predict the worldwide informa- tion base will double every seventy-three days. While access to diverse sources of information and perspectives is paramount to any democratic society, information alone cannot help people gain knowledge and un- derstanding. Information must be organized and presented clearly and succinctly in order to be understood. The challenge in the digital age becomes not the creation of information, but how best to sort, organize, enhance, and present information. d r o ReferencePoint Press developed the Compact Research series with this w e challenge of the information age in mind. More than any other subject r o F area today, researching current issues can yield vast, diverse, and unquali- fied information that can be intimidating and overwhelming for even the most advanced and motivated researcher. The Compact Research series of- fers a compact, relevant, intelligent, and conveniently organized collection of information covering a variety of current topics ranging from illegal immigration and deforestation to diseases such as anorexia and meningitis. The series focuses on three types of information: objective single- author narratives, opinion-based primary source quotations, and facts 6 Foreword and statistics. The clearly written objective narratives provide context and reliable background information. Primary source quotes are care- fully selected and cited, exposing the reader to differing points of view, and facts and statistics sections aid the reader in evaluating perspectives. Presenting these key types of information creates a richer, more balanced learning experience. For better understanding and convenience, the series enhances infor- mation by organizing it into narrower topics and adding design features that make it easy for a reader to identify desired content. For example, in Compact Research: Illegal Immigration, a chapter covering the economic impact of illegal immigration has an objective narrative explaining the various ways the economy is impacted, a balanced section of numerous primary source quotes on the topic, followed by facts and full-color il- lustrations to encourage evaluation of contrasting perspectives. The ancient Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca wrote, “It is quality rather than quantity that matters.” More than just a collection of content, the Compact Research series is simply committed to creating, finding, organizing, and presenting the most relevant and appropriate amount of information on a current topic in a user-friendly style that invites, intrigues, and fosters understanding. 7 Gambling Addiction at a Glance Gambling Addiction Defined Gambling addiction is an uncontrollable urge to gamble despite negative consequences. Causes of Gambling Addiction Gambling addiction is caused by genetic vulnerability, environmental influences, and frequent exposure to gambling. e c False Beliefs n a l G Gambling addicts frequently have false beliefs and superstitions that a contribute to their addiction, such as a belief that if they gamble long t a n enough, they will win back their losses. o i t c Digital Gambling Machines i d d A Digital gambling machines, such as video poker and slot machines, are g n becoming increasingly popular and may contribute to addiction. i l b m Prevalence a G About 1 percent of the US population is addicted to gambling; an ad- ditional 2 to 3 percent are problem gamblers. 8 Gambling Addiction at a Glance Accompanying Disorders Almost all gambling addicts have another addiction, such as alcoholism, or a mental health or mood disorder. Costs of Addiction Gambling addiction causes personal debt, white-collar crime, divorce and family dysfunction, and suicide. Internet Gambling To raise tax revenue many states are legalizing or considering legalizing Internet gambling, which is the fastest-growing segment of the gambling industry. Gambling Addiction and Teens Teenagers are more vulnerable to gambling addiction because the parts of their brains that control impulses have not matured. Treatment Options Twelve-step programs, treatment centers, individual therapy, and medi- cation are used to treat gambling addiction, although some gambling addicts quit without help. 9 Overview “Gambling addiction is just as real, and its conse- quences just as tragic, as alcohol or drug abuse.” —Bernard P. Horn, political director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling. “When I gambled, I could go without food, drink, or sleep and still keep gambling. I never quit ’til the money was gone.” —Marilyn Lancelot, author of Gripped by Gambling. S hirley gambled for the first time in her mid-twenties, when she and some friends visited Las Vegas. About ten years later, while working as an attorney on the East Coast, she began to visit local casinos. By her late forties she was skipping work four days a week to play blackjack, betting thousands of dollars on each hand. “I wanted to gamble all the time,” she told Scientific American. “I loved it—I loved that high I felt.”1 w e i Eventually Shirley was arrested for stealing money from her clients to v r e fund her gambling addiction. After serving two years in prison, she be- v O gan seeing a therapist to help rebuild her life. At the time, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) did not consider gambling to be addictive, and her counselor never said she was an addict. But after attending Gam- blers Anonymous (GA), Shirley concluded that she was addicted to the high she felt at the blackjack table. “It took me a long time to say I was an addict,” she says, “but I was, just like any other.”2 Shirley is one of millions of Americans whose lives have been de- stroyed by gambling addiction. As it happened in Shirley’s case, gam- 10