Negative Effects of Problem Gambling

Evidently, damage, dependence and loss of control, all of which are to be expected as gambling involvement prevails, dominate the life of a problem gambler. For centuries, the impacts of problem gambling have been known and none have described the negative effects as aptly as Jean Barbeyrac in his 1737 works Traite du Jeu:

I do not know if there is any other passion which allows less of repose and  which one has so much difficulty in reducing…the passion of gambling gives no time for breathing…The more one plays the more one wishes to play;…it seems that gambling had acquired the right to occupy all [the gambler’s] thoughts…

The most famous of all problem gamblers was Russian novelist Dostoevsky who was described as being, ‘Powerless in the clutches of his terrific gambling mania, which blunted his sense of moral responsibility as effectively as extreme alcohol addiction could,’ effectively illustrating how gambling can override every aspect of the victim’s existence. For the individual, the negative impacts of gambling far outweigh the few advantages; the pleasure evoked by the infrequent win, for example, is eradicated by the more significant loss which often follows. A gambling fixation can affect every area of the victim’s life. If the addiction goes unnoticed, it is common for the isolated gambler to avoid external resources, choosing to deal with problems alone or denying their existence, thus provoking feelings of guilt, anxiety, fear and ultimately, severe depression, withdrawing from society completely and severely lacking in self-esteem. Gambling often goes hand-in-hand with other addictions; a gambler may turn to drugs or alcohol for solace, unaware these will contribute to and aggravate existing problems. Unsurprisingly, problem gamblers frequently suffer from gastro-intestinal disturbances and insomnia, problems which are likely to intensify as the victim spirals further into debt.

Excessive gambling has drastic effects on employment and finances as participants gamble their lives away. Those at the height of their addiction repeatedly borrow and steal, often from family and friends, in an attempt reverse their losses. Convincing themselves that theft will allow them to win back their money and thus, their livelihood, they are ignorant to the fact this can never be achieved and is more likely to cause further problems in their work and familial relationships. A Canadian survey carried out in 1994 confirmed how destructive the effects of excessive gambling could be. Over half of the 400 participants admitted to spending over $100 monthly on gambling, with around 23% spending from 80 to 200% of their annual salary on their obsession. An astonishing 55% had obtained money through illegal means while 62% admitted to acquiring money from relatives. A great number of gamblers were found to let their habit interfere with their work. Absence was a regular occurrence, while most problem gamblers behaviour and concentration at work was gravely affected by their preoccupation, leading a third of those surveyed to lose their jobs, whether through theft, lack of productivity or continued absence due to entire days spent at casinos. While those surrounding the problem gambler are susceptible to the effects of gambling, the victim himself is most vulnerable and in extreme cases, will attempt suicide. With the success rate alarmingly high, there is no doubt that in serious cases, problem gambling can prove fatal.  

The number of lives affected by problem gambling behaviour far exceeds the number of individuals identified in a prevalence rate. With a reported 90% using family savings to gamble, the impacts of problem gambling on the family are very real:

Compulsive gambling…affects every person with whom the compulsive gambler is closely involved…it is the nature of emotional disorders that when one member of the family is afflicted, the effects are felt by all the others. There are few, however, in which the impact is felt with such severity as in the case of compulsive gambling.

An American study involving members of Gambler’s Anonymous found 43% of problem gamblers were verbally abusive towards their partners, with a further 12% being physically abusive, provoking similar behaviour in the partner towards the gambler and their children in the majority of instances6. Such abuse has led to the break-up of many marriages, also caused by the problem gambler’s continued lying, neglect and financial problems. Furthermore, communication between spouses was found to be practically non-existent, worse than in the marriage of an alcoholics. In spite of this, 75% of partners were found to stay with their partners for fear of loneliness, but in such situations, the gambler’s deceitful behaviour is felt to a greater extent, frequently leading the partner to withdraw from family and friends, blame themselves and severely lack in self-esteem, causing 12% to attempt suicide. The children of problem gamblers are greatly influenced by their parent’s behaviour and thus, more likely to be involved in addictive and unhealthy behaviour such as smoking, drug or alcohol abuse. In addition, psychological problems arise from abuse, unhappy childhoods and broken homes, likely to cause depression and suicide attempts.

Problem gambling not only harms the family, but can also affect the wider community. A preoccupation with gambling can often lead the victim to consider extreme ways of obtaining more money with which to gamble. Continuous research concludes the level of criminal behaviour amongst gamblers is disturbingly high, particularly amongst those who are despairing after losing significant amounts through gambling. Crimes carried out by problem gamblers are similar to those associated with drug addiction, namely fraud, embezzlement, forgery and theft6: crimes which generate funds with which to feed the addiction. In addition, problem gambling brings about enormous economic losses for society. Treatment can be potentially costly, allegedly a full recovery programme in the early 1990s cost up to £20,000 per gambler and recovery is not guaranteed, proving that gambling is an extremely expensive habit, even when a decision has been made to seek treatment.

Evidently, problem gambling brings about enormous social, economic, and psychological implications for the individual, their family and the community. Action has been taken globally to respond to the needs of problem gamblers, but with new and innovative forms of gambling, such as the national lottery which is accessible and appealing to even the most shrewd individual, constantly being introduced, gambling is on the increase, and consequently, so are gambling problems. As debilitating as alcohol and drug addiction, yet not as recognisable, excessive gambling is yet to receive identification as a potentially deadly obsession. With the risks and negative repercussions transcending the initial attractive aspects of gambling, it is difficult for an outsider to comprehend why someone who has suffered such tremendous losses, be it financial or otherwise, would continue gambling their possessions and relationships away. With a great deal of ignorance surrounding this addiction, gamblers are likely to be dismissed as mentally unstable, more likely to be destroyed by gambling than receive adequate treatment. However, in reality gambling is such a consuming psychological addiction that, left to his own devises, the gambler refuses to quit until he has won or, more likely, lost everything.