Keeping Glen Cove SAFE: Problem Gambling
Keeping Glen Cove SAFE: Problem Gambling
The SAFE Glen Cove Coalition is concerned about gambling addiction in youth and adults. Gambling Addiction or Problem Gambling is known as the “hidden addiction” because there are no visible signs. Because of the lack of visibility, often those suffering from a gambling addiction can hide it longer than someone with an alcohol or drug problem. Usually, gambling addiction is discovered when there is a loss of accessibility to money and/or negative actions occur.
Gambling is defined as the act of risking something of value (money, food, clothes, electronics, etc.) on a game of chance (bingo, lottery, dice, slot machine, sports, etc.) for the desired result.
There are many types of gambling opportunities in New York State. You must be 18 to gamble, including buying lottery tickets or buying/selling raffle tickets. If a casino sells alcohol, you must be 21 to enter the casino floor. Some of the most popular types of gambling are: Casinos, Lottery/Scratch-off tickets, Sports Betting, Horse Betting, Bingo, Raffles/Office Pool.
The New York State (NYS) OASAS Youth Development Survey (YDS) is a survey that provides data on underage gambling in New York State. The survey has found that:
- 39% of New York State youth ages 12–17 have gambled in the past year
- 30% of youth who gamble say they started gambling at age 10 or younger
- 26% of youth gamble on lottery, lotto, or scratch offs
- 35% of youth gamble on video games
- 21% of youth gamble on fantasy sports or sports
- 52% of youth gamble on bingo or raffles
- 45% of youth gamble on games of skill
- 5% of youth gamble on sports
- 30% of New York State students said it was easy to get involved in gambling
- 65% of students in grades 7–12 who gamble said their preferred time to gamble was on the weekends
Gambling Disorder in the Age of Mobile Sports Betting
Online gambling is a rapidly growing industry all over the world, affecting both adults and youth. Sports betting is now legal in 38 US states and the District of Columbia, and in 26 states, a person can now make a sports wager on the same device they use to text their therapist or check their social media feeds.
Early data from problem-gambling helplines and state prevalence surveys suggest an increase in both gambling participation and help-seeking, with a disproportionate rise in jurisdictions that permit online betting.2,3 This circumstance presents a challenge—and opportunity—for health care in general and addiction treatment in particular. By providing evidence-supported interventions for prevention and treatment, practitioners can help ensure that the rapid growth of mobile betting is matched by an equally rapid, equally sophisticated public-health response.
A Changing Landscape
Gambling disorder (GD) was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) category Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders in 2013 after growing scientific literature revealed that GD shared clinical features as well as underlying neurobiological mechanisms with substance use disorders (SUDs)
Top risk factors for developing/maintaining GD are being male; being young and single or married for less than 5 years; living alone; having a low level of education; and struggling financially. Like people with drug addiction, people with GD experience cravings and withdrawal symptoms and develop tolerance—needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement. Generally, a person with GD cannot control their gambling and experiences significant negative consequences, typically financial and relationship problems, because of it. The indebtedness and shame experienced by people who gamble can lead to self-harm and suicide or suicide attempts.
People with GD often also have substance use disorders and or other mental disorders, such as compulsive behaviors like problematic shopping and gaming. GD is the model behavioral addiction: gambling is a classic experimental tool to measure risk-taking and bias in behavioral economics (ie, the gambling task), and it shares neurobiological similarities with SUDs, including dysregulation of dopamine pathways, altered reward processing, and impaired cognitive control.
Mobile technologies have transformed gambling over the past two decades in a manner analogous to how synthetic drugs have transformed the drug landscape over the same period of time. Just as new, cheap, high-potency synthetic opioids like fentanyl have created conditions for faster progression from initiation to disordered opioid use, gambling on high-speed, 24/7 mobile platforms exposes vulnerable people to a potent combination of continuous betting opportunities, data-driven promotions, and real-time micro-rewards. New markets are exposed to gambling, and compulsive use of these platforms is a predictable result.
The Legalization of Online Gambling
Is associated with larger increases in irresponsible or risky gambling, particularly among those with lower incomes who can least absorb losses. Adolescents, who may be exposed to online gambling influencers and “risk-free” promotions in sports media and social media feeds, are likely to be especially susceptible due to their heightened reward sensitivity and immature executive control and impulsivity. Prevalence estimates for problem gambling in teens vary across studies but there are clear associations with other risk behaviors like alcohol and illicit drug use.
Recognizing and Treating Gambling Disorder
Health care providers must become cognizant of this new gambling landscape, if they aren’t already, and be prepared to provide or refer adults and youth with gambling problems to appropriate, evidence-based treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is generally the treatment of choice for problem gambling. Randomized controlled trials consistently show CBT to be effective at reducing gambling frequency, symptom severity, and financial loss, with gains often sustained for months after treatment. Self-guided, online CBT-based interventions have shown some promise and they may be augmented with human support.
In 2020, the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) published the New York State Problem Gambling Prevalence Survey. Changes to NYS gambling laws since 2006, such as the legalization of commercial casinos in 2013 and the start of sports betting at commercial casinos in 2019 have added to change the landscape of gambling. The gaming industry is regulated at the state level, and gambling activities in New York take place through or at commercial casinos, horse racing, off track betting, lotteries, video lottery gaming, and interactive fantasy sports activities, among others.
Gambling Prevalence Survey respondents were classified as Non-Gamblers, Recreational Gamblers, and Problem Gamblers based on responses to survey items matched to nine of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, criteria for Problem Gamblers. Those professing to have gambled within the past year but who met none of the criteria were classified as Recreational Gamblers whereas those meeting at least one of the criteria for problem gambling were classified as such. This classification yielded the following:
- Overall, 29.4% of participants responded “Yes” to gambling within the past 12 months.
- Non-Gamblers represented 70.6% of the New York population with Recreational Gamblers and Problem Gamblers representing 25.1% and 4.3%, respectively
- Of gamblers, 85.4% were considered Recreational Gamblers with the remaining 14.6% classified as Problem Gamblers.
- Of those classified as Problem Gamblers, 84.4% met, at most, two of the criteria required to be classified as a Problem Gambler. Gambler Demographics Restricting the sample to Recreational and Problem Gamblers only reveals a greater percentage of men are Problem Gamblers (16.6%) compared with women (12.5%). The youngest age group, 18–24, had the highest percentage of Problem Gamblers (24.8%) compared with their older counterparts.
- In contrast, the age group immediately above the youngest, 25–29, had the lowest percentage of Problem Gamblers at 7.5%.
- Those in the 30–44 age group had the second highest percentage of gamblers classified as Problem Gamblers at 20.7%.
National Resources
National Council on Problem Gambling
National Problem Gambling Resources
National Gambling Addiction Hotlines and Additional Resources
State Resources
NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports: Prevention Tips for Parents, Caregivers and Educators
Talking to youth about the risks and consequences of engaging in underage gambling activities can make a difference in the choices they make. Parents and caregivers, educators and community members can take steps to prevent youth gambling behaviors. Talk to Your Kids about Gambling Brochure.
Tips for Having a Plan for Responsible Play: Most adults can gamble responsibly. Having a plan before you gamble can help keep gambling fun and help you avoid consequences.
Warning signs and help:
To get help for problem gambling, for yourself, or a loved one, please reach out to NYS HOPEline at: 1-877-8-HOPENY, or text 467369, or The NY Council on Problem Gambling at: nyproblemgamblinghelp.org
In collaboration with NYS OASAS, this website serves as a resource for problem gambling prevention tailored specifically to meet your needs whether you are a parent, young adult or youth.
Local Resources
Long Island Problem Gambling Resource Center/New York Council on Problem Gambling
M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hotline (516) 226-8342 ask for Justina or Diana
Additional Resources for Prevention Literature and Education
Know the Odds: Statistics, links, e-books, and videos surrounding problem gambling issues
Common Sense: Media/Education: Nonprofit supporting youth, families, educators and advocates with all things media/digital
A taxonomy of gambling and casino games via social media and online technologies
