In the March 2007 issue of 'Psychology and Psychotherapy,' Dr. Richard Wood and associates reported that gambling to escape from life's problems was the strongest predictor in gambling addiction and relapse 2. In addition to escaping from daily problems, gambling addicts may also gamble as a coping mechanism for past trauma. Gambling addiction or gambling disorder is defined as persistent and recurring problematic gambling behavior that causes distress and impairs your overall livelihood. Gambling addiction affects roughly 0.2% to 0.3% of the general U.S. Population, and tends to affects males more than females, though this gender gap has narrowed in recent years. 'Gambling addiction can have a devastating effect not just on patients, but also their families. It can result in people losing their job, and leave families and children homeless.

Q. How extensive is problem gambling and what are the consequences?

A. A recent research study was done by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, in collaboration with three other research groups, on behalf of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. The research group reported that:

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' Based upon criteria developed by the American Psychiatric Association, we estimate that about 2.5 million adults are pathological gamblers and another 3 million adults should be considered problem gamblers. Extending these criteria more broadly, 15 million (American) adults are at risk for problem gambling, and about 148 million are low-risk gamblers (about 129 million adults have never gambled).'

'……Pathological and problem gamblers are more likely than other gamblers or non-gamblers to have been on welfare, declared bankruptcy, and to have been arrested or incarcerated.'

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'…….Pathological and problem gamblers in the United States cost society approximately $5 billion per year and an additional $40 billion in lifetime costs for productivity reductions, social services, and creditor losses. However, these calculations are inadequate to capture the intra-familial costs of divorce and family disruption associated with problem and pathological gambling.'