In the state of Victoria, the rate of problem gambling is estimated to lie in the range of 0.4%-0.8% 4, 5. As reviewed below, previous studies have shown that a large number of factors are correlated with both an individual’s personal gambling frequency and gambling problems. Gambling and problem gambling in Victoria Howe et al. 2018 Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation 7 Executive summary Purpose of report This report presents the findings of a study that examined the prevalence of gambling and problem gambling in Victoria, how these vary with age and gender and how these have evolved from 2010 to 2016. Access the latest statistics, information and analysis on gambling in Victoria, including participation, community perceptions, harm and stigma. How gambling in Victoria is changing over time Our major population studies show how gambling participation is changing in Victoria. A 2017 research report found 70% of Victorians gamble, 0.8% are problem gamblers and 2.8% are at moderate risk of becoming problem gamblers. For some a gambling addiction stems from the need for.

2016 National Survey of Problem Gambling Services

Click HERE to download the complete survey.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report presents the only national compilation of comprehensive information gathered about problem gambling services in the United States. Unlike other mental health and addiction services, there is no federal agency designated to fund and guide programs and policies addressing problem gambling in the U.S. This void has created the need for non-governmental entities to gather national data to better inform individual state efforts and track national trends. In 2006, the Association of Problem Gambling Service Administrators (APGSA) began sponsoring national problem gambling service surveys. This report is the fifth in the series and the second to be co-sponsored by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). NCPG spearheads efforts to address problem gambling at the national level, while state level efforts are primarily delegated to NCPG state-based affiliate chapters (referred to in this report as “Affiliates”).

The 2016 Survey of Problem Gambling Services in the United States included two surveys: one designed to collect information on publicly funded problem gambling services from the 50 states and the District of Columbia and, the other to capture information on problem gambling services delivered by NCPG Affiliates.

This effort represents the most comprehensive collection of information on problem gambling services in the United States. Information was gathered about the services funded by state agencies with legislated or line-item budgets identified for use in addressing problem gambling, and about efforts of NCPG Affiliates. Problem gambling services provided directly by entities such as tribal governments or state lotteries, privately funded entities such as health insurers or casino companies, and community organizations such as Gamblers Anonymous, were not collected in this survey.

WHO ARE APGSA AND NCPG?

The Association of Problem Gambling Service Administrators (APGSA) is the national non-profit membership organization of state administrators of public funds for problem gambling services. APGSA was formed in 2000 to “support the development of services that will reduce the impact of problem gambling.”
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) is a private non-profit organization founded in 1972 whose mission is to “lead state and national stakeholders in the development of comprehensive policy and programs for all those affected by problem gambling.” Both APGSA and NCPG offer state memberships and do not have a position for or against legalized gambling.

HIGHLIGHTS

The total number of states that reported publicly funded problem gambling services increased from 35 in 2006, to 37 in 2010, to 39 in 2013, to 40 in 2016.

SURVEY OBJECTIVES

The objectives were to collect multi-purpose data that can be used to:

• Assist federal and state governments in assessing the nature and extent of problem gambling treatment, prevention, and research services provided by state supported systems and systems funded by NCPG Affiliates.
• Analyze problem gambling service trends and conduct comparative analyses; generate a national directory of state agencies and NCPG Affiliates with problem gambling service oversight responsibilities.
• Explore for associations between state level variables of interest, including size and scope of gaming industry, estimated numbers of problem gamblers, numbers of persons enrolled into state support and NCPG Affiliate supported gambling treatment, problem gambling helpline call volume, and total funding investment into problem gambling services.

FUNDING

The total amount of public funding allocated for problem gambling services in the U.S. increased 20%, from $60.6 million in 2013 to $73.0 million in 2016; on a state-by-state basis, the amounts ranged from $0 (ten states plus the District of Columbia did not provide any dedicated funding for problem gambling services) to $8.47 million in California.

For those 40 states that invest in problem gambling services, per capita allocations for problem gambling services ranged from $0.01 in South Carolina to $1.46 in Delaware. The average per capita allocation for problem gambling services in the 40 states with publicly funded services was 37 cents. When the 10 states without dedicated funding are included, the national average drops to 23 cents per capita.

The average per capita funding level across all states with public funding increased between 2013 and 2016 from 32 cents to 37 cents. Since the 2013 survey, 25 states increased funding levels, seven had no change in funding, and nine reported cuts in their problem gambling service funding, including one state, Arkansas, that eliminated all funding.

At the time this survey was conducted, there were 33 states with active NCPG Affiliate Chapters. Other states had problem gambling councils without official NCPG affiliation and from this group two were included in the Affiliate survey (New Hampshire and Texas). NCPG Affiliate budgets were dramatically smaller than the state agency budgets in most states—including three states where Affiliates had less than $100 in revenue in state fiscal year 2016. The mean NCPG State Affiliate per capita budget was 13 cents and the median was three cents.

Increased state problem gambling service funding levels were significantly associated with:

• Total spending on gambling within a state
• State revenue from gambling
• Number of types of legalized gambling
• The estimated number of adult problem gamblers within a state
• The number of problem gamblers treated

SERVICES

Across all states, there is a lack of uniformity regarding what types of problem gambling services are funded. Among those states that fund problem gambling services, the most commonly supported services provided by state agencies and NCPG Affiliates were, respectively, problem gambling awareness programs, counselor training, helplines, and problem gambling treatment.

AWARENESS: Thirty-six public agencies and 33 NCPG Affiliates reported providing public awareness services. The most common methods of public awareness among state agencies were via website (38 states), printed material (33 states) and informational sessions (32 states). The most common public awareness efforts from Affiliates were informational sessions (27 states) and via social media (26 states).

In the U.S., substance use disorders are about 3.8 times more common than gambling disorders, while public funding for substance abuse treatment is about 334 times greater than public funding for all problem gambling services ($24.4 billion versus $73.0 million, respectively).

TREATMENT: In 2016, about one quarter of one percent of people (14,375) who needed gambling disorder treatment received publicly funded care from a gambling treatment specialist. These figures are revealing when compared to substance use treatment statistics that find 10.8 percent of people aged 12 or older (2.3 million people) who needed substance use treatment received treatment at a specialty facility in 2015. The average cost of problem gambling treatment, per client treatment episode, was $1,333 in 2016; by comparison, in 2006 the average cost of substance abuse treatment per client treatment episode was $1,583 (Etner et al., 2006), a figure that has likely risen. The only variable that was significantly associated with increases in gambling treatment utilization was higher spending on problem gambling services.

HELPLINE: The survey identified 30 organizations that operate problem gambling helpline numbers and/or call centers. It is common for more than one gambling helpline number to be marketed in the same state. “Calls for help”, defined as the number of problem gambling helpline callers requesting information about problem gambling including help resources, were significantly associated with higher levels of:

• Total spending on gambling within a state
• State revenue from gambling
• Number of types of legalized gambling
• The estimated number of adult problem gamblers within a state
• The number of problem gamblers treated.

PREVENTION: This is the first year in which prevention activities have been specifically surveyed. Twenty three state agencies and 16 Affiliates reported providing prevention services. The most commonly reported prevention activities, shared by both state agencies and NCPG Affiliates, were problem identification and referral (21 state agencies and 15 Affiliates), coalition building (17 state agencies and 14 Affiliates), and policy change efforts (14 state agencies and 13 Affiliates).

RESEARCH & EVALUATION: Results of each of the past four National Problem Gambling Services Surveys indicate that spending on research and evaluation systems has been very low. In 2016, APGSA Survey respondents reported an average of 1.8% of their budgets was spent on “research” (defined as prevalence studies, risk behavior surveys, issue research), and an average of 1.7% was spent on program evaluation.

STRENGTHS & NEEDS: When asked to rate a list of 10 possible strengths of their state’s problem gambling system, the collaborative relationship between the state agency administering problem gambling programs with the state Affiliate had the highest average rating, followed by having protected funds for problem gambling services. When asked to rate a list of needs, the highest average rating was for improved integration of problem gambling into behavioral health services, followed by national guidance on best practices to address daily fantasy sports and other forms of internet-based gambling. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of state agency key informants rated the need for increased funding as “very needed” or “critically needed,” compared to 83% of Affiliate key informants. The gaps in prevention services most listed by states, both by state agencies and NCPG affiliates, were 1) funding, 2) community readiness (low awareness of problem), and 3) staffing and coordination.

Only 17 states funded one or more full-time state employee positions dedicated to administering problem gambling programs.

DISCUSSION

Gambling is one of the few activities that the United States federal government has largely left alone from a regulatory standpoint, as gambling regulation has for the most part been left up to state and local governments. Correspondingly, the U.S. federal government does not provide states with funds to address problem gambling and disallows states from funding problem gambling treatment with the federal funds invested in substance use disorder treatment ($14.7 billion in 2016). The result is poor funding for problem gambling services and a patchwork of gambling-related policies and programs across the United States.

In many states, efforts to garner support for gambling expansion have resulted in language to address problem gambling within legislative measures, which typically offer to dedicate a portion of gambling revenues, taxes, or fees to fund problem gambling service efforts. Less commonly, political controversy over legalized gambling and public concerns have motivated state agencies and/or state legislatures to use non-gambling related funds to support problem gambling services. Some states, such as Alaska, Hawaii and Utah, offer few, if any, legalized gambling opportunities and therefore seem less motivated to develop specialty services and programs to address problem gambling.

Results from this survey found a positive correlation between the number of dollars gambled within a state, the amount of state revenue derived from gambling, and the level of funding for problem gambling services. However, on a state by state basis the relationships between these variables was not always present. This survey found the amount of dedicated funding for problem gambling programs in 2016 varied greatly, including 10 states that did not provide any dedicated funding. The consequence of disparate funding levels for problem gambling services across states is that there are extremely uneven levels of services for individuals with gambling problems across the country.

In states that do not fund specialized gambling treatment services, key informants stated that individuals with a gambling disorder who did not have coverage through private insurance were either referred to community supports like Gamblers Anonymous, or served within their publicly funded mental health and addictions treatment systems. Because few problem gamblers present for treatment, most mental health and addiction profession generalists have little to no experience working with problem gamblers. Conversely, most states with line-itemed problem gambling budgets have invested in training a workforce and developing an infrastructure to treat problem gamblers and implement problem gambling prevention and awareness programs. Thus, problem gamblers living in states without dedicated funds to address problem gambling are less likely to obtain the help they need to produce good outcomes.

Findings from this survey support the need to develop federal funding and guidelines that can fill gaps in America’s safety net for problem gamblers and begin to address health service disparities for preventing and treating problem gambling.

When you think of addiction, what do you think of? Most people consider drugs, or alcohol, or another sort of substance.

But, an increasing number of people are falling into gambling addiction – the addiction to the feeling of being close to that “big win” that is going to change your life forever.

The problem is, as many people find out – it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be.

And it causes financial issues and ruin for millions of people every year.

Let’s take a look at 20 different gambling addiction facts that you may have never considered before.

Contents

1. Gambling addiction is surprisingly common

It is estimated that 80 percent of adults in the United States gamble yearly.

And, out of every 100 gamblers, there are 2 to 3 people that have some sort of gambling problem – that is a huge number when you really think about just how many people that impacts around the country.

The number is even larger world-wide, and it’s estimated that the number continues to grow on a regular basis.

That’s why it’s so important we go and understand this disorder in detail.

2. 1 percent of the general problem consists of pathological gamblers

Pathological gamblers have a unique issue – no matter what it is that they are doing, they are likely to think about and become obsessed with gambling in some way, shape, or form – and that can be incredibly hindering when it comes to dealing with the addiction from the bottom up.

Pathological gambling means that they are likely to make almost anything a “gamble” so that they can get their fix.

This can make the whole issue that much more difficult for people to try and work out, no matter what that looks like.

3. 2-3 percent of gamblers are defined as problem gamblers

These numbers are huge.

That means that, for every 100 people that walk through the door of the casino, 2 to 3 of those people are problem gamblers.

That’s why there are now so many laws that are associated with gambling and providing the numbers to hotline that can assist people with gambling addiction.

The problem is so widespread that we need to make that information available so that people can get help as soon as they recognize that they have a gambling problem.

4. Gambling addiction is actually a neurological disorder

Like every sort of addiction that is out there, gambling addiction is something that comes down to how the brain is wired.

The neurological conditions that cause addiction are problematic and, even though there has been a lot of research related to these conditions, we are still working on finding ways to prevent addiction from taking hold in people’s lives in the first place.

Many researchers are hopeful that this sort of breakthrough is going to happen within the next few years, allowing us to help addicts before it becomes an even bigger issue to try and work through.

5. Sometimes addicts gamble for no particular reason

There doesn’t have to be a reason or a “trigger” that causes someone with a gambling addiction to go and gamble.

Sometimes, they just are bored or they want something to do, so they make the choice to either get online or go out to the casino and gamble.

While triggers can definitely make gambling happen much more often, addicts really don’t need any sort of excuse to go out and gamble.

6. Addicts contribute considerably to the BILLION dollar gambling industry

The gambling industry is huge, and it continues to grow on a yearly basis, likely due to the fact that so many adults that are of age to gamble go out and gamble regularly.

Millions of dollars are added to the system all of the time – and unfortunately, a lot of that money is from the pockets of people who are addicted to gambling.

Because of this, it makes it even more difficult to enact legislation that could potentially protect gambling addicts from putting themselves in particular situations in the first place.

7. Number of gambling addicts with an alcohol disorder is 75 percent

As with many types of addiction, there are usually multiple types of addiction going on at the same time.

Since alcohol is something that is readily available at casinos of all sorts, it’s not surprising that one of the most common addiction issues that coincide with gambling is alcohol addiction.

Many casinos offer a first drink for free (as long as you’re of age) and if you go often enough, you may be a member of the casino, which often gives you access to even more free drinks while you’re there.

8. Number of gambling addicts with a drug use problem is 38 percent

While drugs are not quite as readily available in casinos as other “addictions,” there are other ways for addicts to get connected with those who deal drugs.

Sometimes, the communities that certain casinos are located in have a high number of drug connections as well.

Not only that, but when gambling addicts are looking to get their “fix” that they get when they’re high rolling, sometimes they feel that drugs are the only way to do so.

9. 60 percent of gambling addicts are habitual smokers

In many casinos across the country, smoking is actually allowed – it depends on state and local laws regarding such things.

Smoking is one of those “comfortable addictions” that many gambling addicts turn to when it comes to staying ahead of their cravings – and, since it’s more “socially acceptable” than other types of addiction, it’s not surprising that there are many gamblers that decide to smoke, too.

10. 3-4 percent of the general American populace has a gambling problem

As mentioned above, there are a lot of people out there who are dealing with the issues that can come up with gambling.

While we really don’t know the exact number of people who are struggling with gambling addiction, these estimates can give us an idea of what sorts of things that we’re facing here.

Struggling with gambling addiction is difficult and, as we learn more about what may be going on in regards to these issues, we may be able to help reduce this number in the future.

11. Half of the total gambling addicts have had mood disorders

Many studies show that there is often a correlation with addiction and other mental health issues, often referred to as a “dual diagnosis.” This is why it’s not really surprising that many gambling addicts struggle with mood disorders, which include depression and other similar problems that may be in that category.

It helps them to feel relaxed and makes it easier for them to get through the day if they have something like gambling to have hope in.

12. 41.3 percent of gambling addicts have had anxiety disorders

Anxiety is a problem that has, finally, been getting much more attention around the world.

Anxiety often causes people to feel negatively about themselves, causes them to feel nervous in regular daily situations, and more.

Gambling is used as a coping mechanism, because it’s often something that they feel confident about and helps them to “escape” from the realities that they face with anxiety.

13. 60.8 percent of gambling addicts have had a personality disorder

Personality disorders include schizoid disorders, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and a variety of other issues in this regard.

Many times, people with these disorders need to feel like they can “beat the odds” and gambling is a way that they can get their fix in that regard.

And, as with the other disorders we’ve mentioned above, it provides an escape from the symptoms that they deal with on a day to day basis as well.

14. Gambling addiction chances increase exponentially with alcohol disorders

As mentioned above, alcoholism and gambling addiction go hand in hand because of how easily gamblers can get alcohol.

Here’s another side to that issue: alcohol actually decreases your inhibitions – which means that you are much more likely to take risks if you are inebriated.

There’s something to be said about feeling brave after you’ve taken any sort of drink.

Since evaluating risk is more difficult when you are drinking, you’re more likely to gamble – and gamble with the high rollers, too.

15. Anywhere from 12.5 to 29 percent of problem gamblers have PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is an issue for people of all sorts of backgrounds, so it’s not surprising that so many people are estimated to be dealing with PTSD and dealing with a gambling addiction at the same time as well.

Casinos, bingo halls, and other locations where gambling is a big deal are where PTSD suffers may go to connect with other people, especially if they feel like they can’t really go anywhere else and feel safe.

16. PTSD sufferers often turn to gambling for refuge

The lack of control that people with PTSD feel on a regular basis can be hard – and many people with PTSD struggle with issues related to money to start with.

As a result, they will end up looking to options like gambling in order to feel better about themselves and to work toward the goals that they have in the financial realm, even though it’s not likely that they are going to actually see any sort of difference when it comes to trying to figure this sort of thing out.

17. Gambling causes immense financial ruin DAILY

There are more and more people who, because of gambling, end up dealing with financial ruin.

As the gambling addiction gets more and more engrained into what they are doing in their daily lives, it becomes harder than ever to figure out what needs to be done to make it better.

They end up going into debt and having a lot of credit issues that can make it difficult to go through their daily lives.

Problem Gambling Victoria Statistics 2020

If people are into gambling and they are struggling with the effects of it, it is vital to figure out a way out so that they can have financial freedom later on.

Problem Gambling Victoria Statistics Canada

18. Most gambling addicts relapse immediately

One of the hardest parts about recovery for gambling addicts is the fact that they need accountability and help in relation to getting past this very difficult part of their lives.

Problem Gambling Victoria Statistics Since

Addiction is something that people struggle with every single day, and gambling addiction is a sneaky addiction that can be easy to conceal from others.

Because gambling is so readily accessible and there are so many things involved in the recovery process, it’s not surprising that there are more and more people who are fighting to break out of this addiction on a yearly basis.

19. Often addicts become excessively financially dependent

The problem with gambling addiction is, even if you’re working out what needs to happen, you are going to find that it can be really hard to keep things together financially.

As a result, the people who are trying to deal with gambling addiction on a regular basis are in need of help financially.

Whether that means that they have absolutely no access to their finances, or that their necessary finances come from another source of some sort, it can be very difficult for the addict to deal with money.

20. Gambling addiction makes for a dangerous preoccupation with the activity

Problem Gambling Victoria Statistics 2019

The activity of gambling can develop into a preoccupation that is hard to deal with, even for the addict.

That means that, no matter what is going on or how a person is trying to go through their day, they are thinking about gaming in some way, shape, or form.

That can inhibit them from doing the work that they’ve been hired to do, or it can make things difficult in regards to dealing with money.

This preoccupation could be the thing that destroys their life if they aren’t careful, and if they gamble with the wrong crowd, it could have devastating consequences.