U.S. National Problem Gambling Research Data

Resource Library Item

Overview

U.S. National Problem Gambling Data

Here, you’ll find a summary of problem gambling research data specific to New York State from our Resource Library. For more information click research citation links.

For quick reference, data topic categories on this webpage include:

 

 

U.S. National Problem Gambling General Data

  • 68% of NYS residents have not gambled in the last 12 months.
  • 4.4% are at risk for developing a gambling problem. (these individuals met up to 2 of the criteria for Gambling Disorder).
  • 0.7% are problem or pathological gamblers. This includes:
      • ♦ 0.3% problem gambling (exhibited harmful effects of their gambling), and
      • ♦ 0.4% pathological gambling (preoccupation, loss of control, irrational thinking, continuous gambling despite negative consequences).
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Aging/ Older Adults Data

 

  • 62% of 71+ year-old respondents have gambled (Welte, 2011).

Older Adult Asian Communities Data

  •  Interviewees noted many of them come from cultures that prioritize extended family, such as elderly playing an important role as caretakers of the younger generation. In modern American society, this important role is lost, leading many elderly to gambling to fill his void (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Some community elders will visit casinos to drink morning tea everyday to chat with friends. They also find the casino environment is good for walking, being warm in winter and cool in summer (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Elders in particular can be hard hit by gambling addiction because of their linguistic and social isolation (Colby et al, 2022).

Older Adult Sports Betting Data

  • 8% of individuals age 65 to 74 bet on sports in the past year (NCPG, 2021).
  • 3% of individuals age 75 and older bet on sports in the past year (NCPG, 2021).

 

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Asian Communities Data

 

  • Over 80% of the interviewees were aware of the buses within their communities which would take individuals to the casino (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 65% of interviewees discussed the motivation to gamble for entertainment and the social aspect of gambling  (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 40% of interviewees mentioning boredom as a reason for gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 25% of the interviewees discussed a lack of alternative entertainment options as the reason why people go to the casinos (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Over 20% of the interviews brought up gambling as a way to relax and relieve stress (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 66% of Asians have gambled in the past year (Welte, 2011).
  • 14% of Asians frequently gamble (Welte, 2011).
  • 3% of Asians experience gambling harm (Welte, 2011).

Places To Gamble

  • Interviewees identified gambling locations (Colby et al, 2022), including:
      • ♦ 83% stated casinos.
      • ♦ 35% stated small shops (lottery tickets).
      • ♦ 30% stated in homes.
      • ♦ 13% stated private places (described as where the serious gamblers went).
      • ♦ 10% stated illegally in underground casinos.
      • ♦ 5% stated clubs and/or parks.

Types Of Gambling

  • Interviewees identified types of gambling (Colby et al, 2022), including:
      • ♦ 78% stated casino games.
      • ♦ 43% stated lottery.
      • ♦ 35% stated Mahjong.
      • ♦ 30% stated sports betting.
      • ♦ 28% stated Keno, scratch tickets, and/or other games.
      • ♦ 15% stated poker and/or online gambling.

Asian Communities Cultural Data

  • Asian communities frequent casinos because they felt welcomed and there were others who spoke their language (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Many respondents claimed to go to the casino with their friends, some making plans for weekend trips and activities (Colby et al, 2022).
  • The Cambodian community may not seek help due to embarrassment and worry about the opinions of others (Colby et al, 2022).
  • The Chinese community discusses gambling in terms of a recreational pastime but any discussion of actual problems is more taboo. Issues like financial debt, domestic ruin, and other struggles are viewed as personal and shameful rather than the gambling itself (Colby et al, 2022).
  • The Korean community doesn’t believe in mental illness. They don’t want their family member to have treatment for mental illness and prevent them to go to the therapist (Colby et al, 2022).

Asian Americans Family Data

  • 65% of the respondents believed that gambling had negative impacts on families (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 55% of interviewees listed domestic violence (whether physical, verbal, or emotional) as a side effect of gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
      • ♦ The root cause of Asian women who were in painful situations of physical and emotional abuse stemmed from uncontrolled gambling by a spouse (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Additional identified impacts of gambling include:
  • Family arguments and the destruction of familial trust, causing undue stress (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Children lose trust in their parents and may be exposed to parental arguments and domestic violence (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Uncontrolled gambling, often at a local casino, was at the root of the families’ financial problems (Colby et al, 2022).

Asian Americans Aging/ Older

  •  Interviewees noted many of them come from cultures that prioritize extended family, such as elderly playing an important role as caretakers of the younger generation. In modern American society, this important role is lost, leading many elderly to gambling to fill his void (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Some community elders will visit casinos to drink morning tea everyday to chat with friends. They also find the casino environment is good for walking, being warm in winter and cool in summer (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Elders in particular can be hard hit by gambling addiction because of their linguistic and social isolation (Colby et al, 2022).

Asian Americans Mental Health Data

  • 33% of the interviewees spoke about gambling causing the mental health of the gambler, the family, or both to deteriorate due to the negative impacts of gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 15% of interviewees mentioned death and suicide as an impact of problem gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Suicide – family member of the gambler who either threatened or completed suicide due to the stress and pain of dealing with their spouses gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Gambler’s mental health worsened due to wanting to win (chasing losses) (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Problem gambling can create incredible stress on families leading to financial ruin/debt, domestic violence, child neglect, and even suicide (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Gambling problems may cause changes in people leading to a “violent mentality,” making the gambler more likely to vent and take out their stress and anger on their family (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Losing and becoming more and more in debt led to desperation, stress, and depression (Colby et al, 2022).

Asian Americans Socioeconomic Data

  • 60% of interviewees thought that gamblers gambled to earn quick easy money (Colby et al, 2022).
      • ♦ Less than 20% of interviewees mentioned gambling to earn money for improving family finances.
  • 83% of participants stressed the potential for financial difficulties due to gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
  • People chose to gamble to escape poverty and improve family finances (the dream of a better future) (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Problem gambling can create incredible stress on families leading to financial ruin/debt, domestic violence, child neglect, and even suicide (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Uncontrolled gambling, often at a local casino, was at the root of the families’ financial problems (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Interviewees identified places to seek money (Colby et al, 2022), including:
      • ♦ 65% ask friends.
      • ♦ 38% ask loan sharks.
      • ♦ 33% borrow from family.
      • ♦ 23% take out high interest loans.
      • ♦ 23% pawn items.
      • ♦ 15% sell property.
      • ♦ 13% work more jobs/ overtime.
  • People choose to gamble for stress relief.
      • ♦ The stress relief was largely linked to work pressure and the heavy workload a lot of people feel (Colby et al, 2022).
      • ♦ People “believe that gambling is a very relaxing thing” (Colby et al, 2022).
      • ♦ Escape, or distract, from the stress of real life (Colby et al, 2022).

Asian Americans Treatment Data

  • 65% of the interviewees felt they were unsure of where to seek help if it was needed (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 20% stated that the Asian community get their news and information from trusted community organizations that spoke the language of these immigrant populations (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Interviewees seemed to be skeptical about whether people would be willing to seek help (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Interviewees were particularly unsure about what resources were available (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Emphasis was placed on the importance and inclusion of family is essential in resolving gambling problems (Colby et al, 2022).
  • When asked who a gambler would seek help from, respondents tended to choose family members and relatives such as spouses, parents, and children (Colby et al, 2022).

 

*View Aging/ Older Adult data summary*
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BIPOC Data

In the past year:

 

BIPOC Asian Communities Data

  • Over 80% of the interviewees were aware of the buses within their communities which would take individuals to the casino (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 65% of interviewees discussed the motivation to gamble for entertainment and the social aspect of gambling  (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 40% of interviewees mentioning boredom as a reason for gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 25% of the interviewees discussed a lack of alternative entertainment options as the reason why people go to the casinos (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Over 20% of the interviews brought up gambling as a way to relax and relieve stress (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 66% of Asians have gambled in the past year (Welte, 2011).
  • 14% of Asians frequently gamble (Welte, 2011).
  • 3% of Asians experience gambling harm (Welte, 2011).
BIPOC: Asian Communities Places To Gamble
  • Interviewees identified gambling locations (Colby et al, 2022), including:
      • ♦ 83% stated casinos.
      • ♦ 35% stated small shops (lottery tickets).
      • ♦ 30% stated in homes.
      • ♦ 13% stated private places (described as where the serious gamblers went).
      • ♦ 10% stated illegally in underground casinos.
      • ♦ 5% stated clubs and/or parks.
BIPOC: Asian Communities Types Of Gambling
  • Interviewees identified types of gambling (Colby et al, 2022), including:
      • ♦ 78% stated casino games.
      • ♦ 43% stated lottery.
      • ♦ 35% stated Mahjong.
      • ♦ 30% stated sports betting.
      • ♦ 28% stated Keno, scratch tickets, and/or other games.
      • ♦ 15% stated poker and/or online gambling.
BIPOC: Asian Communities Cultural Data
  • Asian communities frequent casinos because they felt welcomed and there were others who spoke their language (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Many respondents claimed to go to the casino with their friends, some making plans for weekend trips and activities (Colby et al, 2022).
  • The Cambodian community may not seek help due to embarrassment and worry about the opinions of others (Colby et al, 2022).
  • The Chinese community discusses gambling in terms of a recreational pastime but any discussion of actual problems is more taboo. Issues like financial debt, domestic ruin, and other struggles are viewed as personal and shameful rather than the gambling itself (Colby et al, 2022).
  • The Korean community doesn’t believe in mental illness. They don’t want their family member to have treatment for mental illness and prevent them to go to the therapist (Colby et al, 2022).
BIPOC: Asian Americans Family Data
  • 65% of the respondents believed that gambling had negative impacts on families (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 55% of interviewees listed domestic violence (whether physical, verbal, or emotional) as a side effect of gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
      • ♦ The root cause of Asian women who were in painful situations of physical and emotional abuse stemmed from uncontrolled gambling by a spouse (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Additional identified impacts of gambling include:
  • Family arguments and the destruction of familial trust, causing undue stress (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Children lose trust in their parents and may be exposed to parental arguments and domestic violence (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Uncontrolled gambling, often at a local casino, was at the root of the families’ financial problems (Colby et al, 2022).
BIPOC: Asian Americans Aging/ Older
  •  Interviewees noted many of them come from cultures that prioritize extended family, such as elderly playing an important role as caretakers of the younger generation. In modern American society, this important role is lost, leading many elderly to gambling to fill his void (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Some community elders will visit casinos to drink morning tea everyday to chat with friends. They also find the casino environment is good for walking, being warm in winter and cool in summer (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Elders in particular can be hard hit by gambling addiction because of their linguistic and social isolation (Colby et al, 2022).
BIPOC: Asian Americans Mental Health Data
  • 33% of the interviewees spoke about gambling causing the mental health of the gambler, the family, or both to deteriorate due to the negative impacts of gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 15% of interviewees mentioned death and suicide as an impact of problem gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Suicide – family member of the gambler who either threatened or completed suicide due to the stress and pain of dealing with their spouses gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Gambler’s mental health worsened due to wanting to win (chasing losses) (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Problem gambling can create incredible stress on families leading to financial ruin/debt, domestic violence, child neglect, and even suicide (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Gambling problems may cause changes in people leading to a “violent mentality,” making the gambler more likely to vent and take out their stress and anger on their family (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Losing and becoming more and more in debt led to desperation, stress, and depression (Colby et al, 2022).
BIPOC: Asian Americans Socioeconomic Data
  • 60% of interviewees thought that gamblers gambled to earn quick easy money (Colby et al, 2022).
      • ♦ Less than 20% of interviewees mentioned gambling to earn money for improving family finances.
  • 83% of participants stressed the potential for financial difficulties due to gambling (Colby et al, 2022).
  • People chose to gamble to escape poverty and improve family finances (the dream of a better future) (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Problem gambling can create incredible stress on families leading to financial ruin/debt, domestic violence, child neglect, and even suicide (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Uncontrolled gambling, often at a local casino, was at the root of the families’ financial problems (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Interviewees identified places to seek money (Colby et al, 2022), including:
      • ♦ 65% ask friends.
      • ♦ 38% ask loan sharks.
      • ♦ 33% borrow from family.
      • ♦ 23% take out high interest loans.
      • ♦ 23% pawn items.
      • ♦ 15% sell property.
      • ♦ 13% work more jobs/ overtime.
  • People choose to gamble for stress relief.
      • ♦ The stress relief was largely linked to work pressure and the heavy workload a lot of people feel (Colby et al, 2022).
      • ♦ People “believe that gambling is a very relaxing thing” (Colby et al, 2022).
      • ♦ Escape, or distract, from the stress of real life (Colby et al, 2022).
BIPOC: Asian Americans Treatment Data
  • 65% of the interviewees felt they were unsure of where to seek help if it was needed (Colby et al, 2022).
  • 20% stated that the Asian community get their news and information from trusted community organizations that spoke the language of these immigrant populations (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Interviewees seemed to be skeptical about whether people would be willing to seek help (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Interviewees were particularly unsure about what resources were available (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Emphasis was placed on the importance and inclusion of family is essential in resolving gambling problems (Colby et al, 2022).
  • When asked who a gambler would seek help from, respondents tended to choose family members and relatives such as spouses, parents, and children (Colby et al, 2022).

 

BIPOC Black American Data

  • Of Blacks who gamble, they have higher rates of frequent gambling and problem gambling than whites/others (Barnes et al., 2013).
  • Black Americans have lower odds of being a gambler as compared with all other race/ethnic groups (Barnes et al., 2013).
  • 67% of Blacks have gambled in the past year (Welte, 2011).
  • 25% of Blacks frequently gamble (Welte, 2011).
  • 5% of Blacks struggle with gambling harm (Welte, 2011).
  • The odds of frequent gambling are higher for blacks and Native Americans than for whites (Welte, 2011).
BIPOC: Black Americans Substance Use Disorder Data
  • Of Blacks who gamble, they have higher rates of frequent gambling and problem gambling than whites/others (but lower rates of heavy drinking and alcohol abuse/dependence) (Barnes et al., 2013).
BIPOC: Black Americans College and Young Adults Data
  • 60% increased odds of heavy gambling for those identifying as black (yet a 70% decrease in odds of drinking or heavy drinking) (Barnes, 2017).
  • Of Blacks who gamble, they have higher rates of frequent gambling and problem gambling than whites/others (but lower rates of heavy drinking and alcohol abuse/dependence) (Barnes et al., 2013).
BIPOC: Black Americans Sports Betting Data
  • 32% of Blacks participate in sports betting (NCPG, 2021).

 

BIPOC Native American Data

  • The odds of frequent gambling are higher for blacks and Native Americans than for whites (Welte et al., 2011)

 

*View Black Community data summary*
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Black Men Data

 

Co-Occurring SUD Data

 

  • Gambling in the past year is more prevalent (75%) than drinking any alcohol in the past year (60%) (Barnes et al, 2013).
  • 75% of respondents reported gambling in the past year (Barnes et al, 2013).
  • The prevalence rate of pathological gambling co-occurring disorders include: (Petry et al., 2005)
    • 73.2% had an alcohol use disorder.
    • 60.4% had nicotine dependence.
    • 38.1% had a drug use disorder.
  • “A large majority of the associations between pathological gambling and substance use, mood, anxiety, and personality disorders were overwhelmingly positive and significant.” (Petry et al., 2005).

Co-Occurring SUD Black Americans Data

  • Of Blacks who gamble, they have higher rates of frequent gambling and problem gambling than whites/others (but lower rates of heavy drinking and alcohol abuse/dependence) (Barnes et al., 2013).

Co-Occurring SUD College and Young Adult Data

Co-Occurring SUD Gender Data

  • Rates of gambling and drinking in the past year is consistent for both (Barnes et al., 2013):
    • Males (81% vs. 62% respectively), and
    • Females (70% and 57% respectively).
  • Males have 2x the rate of frequent and problem gambling, and heavy drinking and alcohol abuse, than females (Barnes et al., 2013).
  • Alcohol abuse is highly prevalent for males and young people, in particular, across neighborhoods of all types (Barnes et al., 2013).
  • Rates of gambling and drinking in the past year is consistent for women (70% and 57% respectively) (Barnes et al., 2013).

Co-Occurring SUD Sports Betting Data

  • 75% of daily (or almost daily) sports betters engaged in binge drinking (Grubbs and Kraus, 2024).
      • ♦ This is 4 TIMES more than gamblers who do not engage in sports betting.
  • 66% of weekly sports betters engaged in binge drinking (Grubbs and Kraus, 2024).
      • ♦ This is 3 TIMES more than gamblers who do not engage in sports betting.
  • 59% of daily (or almost daily) sports betters engaged in binge drinking (Grubbs and Kraus, 2024).
      • ♦ This is 2.5 TIMES more than gamblers who do not engage in sports betting.
  • Alcohol consumption is higher among sports gamblers, and sports gamblers often use substances while gambling (Grubbs and Kraus, 2024).
  • Binge drinking in both men and women was reported at greater frequency among sports wagering individuals compared with non-gamblers and non–sports gamblers (Grubbs and Kraus, 2024).
  • Individuals who wager on sports use alcohol in particularly risky ways (Grubbs and Kraus, 2024).

Co-Occurring SUD Underage Gambling Data

  • 85% of youth say their parents feel it’s wrong for them to gamble (OASAS, 2015).  This is in comparison to:
    • 97% say their parents feel it’s wrong for them to smoke tobacco,
    • 97% say their parents feel it’s wrong for them to use a prescription drug not prescribed to you,
    • 95% say their parents feel it’s wrong for them to 1-2 drinks daily, and
    • 93% say their parents feel it’s wrong for them to smoke marijuana.

Co-Occurring SUD Veteran Data

  • Gambling Disorder is frequently comorbid with other psychiatric disorders (Etuk et al., 2020).

 

 

College & Young Adult Data

 

  • Of young adults who gambled in the past year (Barnes, 2017):
    • 75% were college students.
    • 70% were non-college young adults.
  • Of those young adults gambled 52 times or more in the past year (Barnes, 2017):
    • 25% were non-college individuals.
    • 18% were college students.
  • College student status does not appear to put young people at added risk of gambling problems (Barnes, 2017).
  • The rates of heavy gambling were higher for non-college young adults than for college students (the opposite of heavy drinking, which is higher among college students) (Barnes, 2017).
  • Problem gambling is highest in the 22-40 age group (Barnes et al., 2013).
  • 89% of 22-30 year-old respondents have gambled in the past year (Welte, 2011).
  • Problem gambling had a much higher co-morbidity with conduct disorder if it started early in life (Welte, 2011).
  • After age 21, problem gambling is more prevalent than alcohol dependence (Welte, 2011).
  • 30% or less of schools have policies designed to promote recovery from addictive disorders (Task Force on College Gambling Policies, 2009).

College and Young Adult Black Americans Data

  • 60% increased odds of heavy gambling for those identifying as black (yet a 70% decrease in odds of drinking or heavy drinking) (Barnes, 2017).

College and Young Adult Co-Occurring SUD Data

College and Young Adult Gender Data

  • 5x the odds of being a heavy or problem gambling male as females regardless of college student status (Barnes, 2017).
  • 38% and 31% are the rates of heavy gambling for non-college and college young men, respectively (Barnes, 2017).
  • Is the most important and consistent risk factor for gambling behaviors whether in college or non-college settings (Barnes, 2017).
  • The most popular forms of gambling for males are lottery, card games, pools and raffles, sports betting and games of skill (Barnes, 2017).
  • 5% rate of non-college females were identified as struggling with problem gambling (Barnes, 2017).
  • 2% rate of college females were identified as struggling with problem gambling (Barnes, 2017).
  • 12% of non-college females report heavy gambling (compared to 6% of college females) (Barnes, 2017).
  • 5% of non-college females struggle with gambling harm (compared to 2% of females attending college) (Barnes, 2017).
  • The most popular forms of gambling for females are lottery, card games, pools and raffles, and bingo (Barnes, 2017).

College and Young Adult Socioeconomic Data

  • Gambling and problem gambling are influenced by broad sociodemographic factors, especially gender and race, and not by college factors per se (Barnes, 2017).
  • Higher socioeconomic status lowered the odds of problem gambling (Barnes, 2017).
  • Alcohol abuse is highly prevalent for males and young people, in particular, across neighborhoods of all types (Barnes et al., 2013).

College and Young Adult Sports Betting Data

  • 27% of autonomy schools had dealt with a sports wagering problem among their athletes or staff within the past year (NCAA, 2023).
  • 25% become aware of any student-athletes on their campus who were harassed (online or in person) by someone with gambling interests (NCAA, 2023).
  • 95% have some form of sports wagering education occurring for athletes, coaches and athletics administrators (NCAA, 2023).
  • 85% of D1, 50% of D2 and 32% of D3 schools provide education more than once/year to student-athletes (NCAA, 2023).
  • 75% of D1, 40% of D2 and 25% of D3 schools provide education more than once/year to their coaches and administrators (NCAA, 2023).
  • More schools across all three NCAA divisions are also discussing well-being issues, including gambling addiction, than reported doing so in a similar NCAA survey conducted in 2019 (NCAA, 2023).
  • Many schools, especially those in DI, send student-athletes and athletics department personnel reminder texts or emails prior to big sporting events (e.g., March Madness, Super Bowl, football bowl games) (NCAA, 2023).
  • Regardless, sports wagering falls at the bottom of the importance list (NCAA, 2023).
    • Academic eligibility, drug testing, sexual violence and mental health are the priorities.
  • 55% of NCAA men in the 2016 study reported gambling for money within the past year (NCAA, 2017).
  • 35% of NCAA men (13% of NCAA women) gamblers have ever lost more than $50 in a day (NCAA, 2017).
  • 12% of NCAA men (31% of NCAA women) first gambled in college (NCAA, 2017).
  • 24% of NCAA men (5% of NCAA women) reported violating NCAA bylaws within the previous year by wagering on sports for money (NCAA, 2017).
    • 1/3 of NCAA men (15% of NCAA women) who reported wagering on sports in the 2016 survey placed bets electronically.
    • 65% of NCAA men (44% of NCAA women) who bet on sports in the past year bet on the NFL (top sports wagering target for both men and women).
    • 20% of NCAA men (2% of NCAA women) in the 2016 study reported having played in fantasy leagues with an entry fee and prize money during the past year (similar to what was seen in the 2008 and 2012 surveys).
    • 11% of NCAA men (2% NCAA women) surveyed in 2016 said they had recently played daily or weekly online fantasy sports contests for money (these participants overlapped substantially with those who reported playing season-long fantasy games).
    • 76% of NCAA men (82% of NCAA women) are aware of the sports wagering rules in Division I (vs 68% of NCAA men and 64% of NCAA women in Division III).
  • 5% rate of non-college females were identified as struggling with problem gambling (Barnes, 2017).
  • 2% rate of college females were identified as struggling with problem gambling (Barnes, 2017).
  • 12% of non-college females report heavy gambling (compared to 6% of college females) (Barnes, 2017).
  • 5% of non-college females struggle with gambling harm (compared to 2% of females attending college) (Barnes, 2017).
  • The most popular forms of gambling for females are lottery, card games, pools and raffles, and bingo (Barnes, 2017).
  • More than 25% of NCAA student-athletes are uncomfortable that people bet on college sports (NCAA, 2017).
  • More than 50% of NCAA student-athletes do not think gambling entities should advertise at college sporting events or during college sports telecasts (NCAA, 2017).
  • Participation in most gambling activities decreased from 2008 t0 2016 among all student-athletes despite the expansion of land-based and online gambling opportunities during this time (NCAA, 2017).
  • Student-athlete gambling debts are a well-being concern, but also a worry for potential vulnerability to outside gambling influences (NCAA, 2017).
  • 57% of male student-athletes reported gambling in some form during the past year (Derevensky and Paskus, 2014).
  • 39% of female student-athletes reported gambling in some form during the past year (Derevensky and Paskus, 2014).
  • 9% of males and 0.2 percent of female student-athletes exhibit clinical signs of problem gambling (Derevensky and Paskus, 2014).
  • 26% of male student-athletes report sports wagering for money despite NCAA prohibiting regulations (8% of these males report gambling on sports at least monthly) (Derevensky and Paskus, 2014).
  • Males who participate in NCAA golf are approximately 3x more likely to wager on sports (or engage in other gambling behaviors) than other student-athletes (Derevensky and Paskus, 2014).
  • Every person with a gambling problem tends to seriously impact a dozen other people: boyfriends, girlfriends, peers, teammates, coaches, parents and employers (Derevensky and Paskus, 2014).

 

*View College & Young Adult data summary*
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High School Diploma or Less

 

Income Less Than $30,000.00

 

Veteran Data

 

  • A skeptical view of safety was associated with a higher sense of personal invincibility, and together with lack of deliberation predicted variations in danger-seeking scores (Breivik et al., 2019).

Veteran Co-Occurring SUD Data

  • Gambling Disorder is frequently comorbid with other psychiatric disorders (Etuk et al., 2020).

Veteran Socioeconomic Data

  • Gambling Disorder is the second strongest predictor of homelessness among veterans, second to illicit drug use (Etuk et al., 2020).

Veteran Suicide Data

  • 39.5% of veteran compulsive gamblers had previously attempted suicide (Etuk et al., 2020).
  • Veterans with Gambling Disorder and chronic pain are 1.9x more likely to attempt suicide than veterans with a pain disorder alone (Etuk et al., 2020).
  • Considerable concern about the increased risk for suicide among veterans with problem gambling behavior is warranted(Etuk et al., 2020).
  • Gamblers with trauma backgrounds that included experienced physical and emotional abuse were more likely to attempt suicide (Etuk et al., 2020).

Veteran Trauma Data

  • Psychiatric disorders such as PTSD can co-occur at high rates among US veterans receiving residential problem gambling treatment (Etuk et al., 2020).
  • Baseline PTSD symptoms were associated with a higher risk of developing problem gambling 10 years later (Etuk et al., 2020).
  • Symptoms of PTSD were related to more general cognitive distortions around gambling, including positive gambling expectancies (Etuk et al., 2020).
  • Both veterans with Gambling Disorder and non-veterans, symptoms of post-traumatic stress were uniquely related to gambling in response to negative affect, gambling in response to social pressure, and gambling due to a need for excitement (Etuk et al., 2020).

Veteran Treatment Data

  • Of Veterans seeking treatment for Gambling Disorder:
  • VA mental health services were found to underdiagnose problem gambling (PG) among the veteran population(Etuk et al., 2020).
  • Studies outside of the DOD and VA healthcare systems have found much higher rates of Gambling Disorder among U.S. Service Members and Veterans (Etuk et al., 2020).

 

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U.S. National Risk Factors

 

Asian American Specific Risk Factors

  • Boredom – Lack of alternative entertainment options (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Social Isolation – Language and cultural barriers (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Financial difficulties – working-class immigrants require English language and occupational skills (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Advertising – gambling special offers such as discounts and free food (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Unaware of support services (Colby et al, 2022).
  • Identifying as Asian American and/or Pacific Islanders (OASAS, 2020).

 

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U.S. National Protective Factors

 

College/ University Protective Factors
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Researched Recommendations

 

  • Age- and gender-targeted prevention and intervention strategies are warranted to reduce the serious consequences of gambling among young adult males in the U.S. population (Barnes, 2017).
  • Approach the issue of gambling harm as being among a number of things that can negatively impact student health and well-being to help the message resonate with college campuses (Derevensky and Paskus, 2014).
  • Given the persistence of frequent gambling and problem gambling through adulthood, increased prevention and intervention efforts are warranted (Welte, 2011).

 

 

Citation

NCAA survey of Senior Compliance Administrators on sports wagering issues. NCAA.org/Research. September 2023. Accessed November 15, 2023. https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/research/wagering/2023RES_NCAAWageringComplianceSurvey.pdf (Link to Research)

National Council on Problem Gambling. (2021). National Detail Report National Survey on gambling attitudes and … http://www.ncpgsurvey.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NCPG_NGAGE-Natl_Detailed_Report-Public.pdf (Link to Research)

2020 New York State Problem Gambling Prevalence Survey Final Report. New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. 2021. (Link to Research)

NCAA. (2017, November). Trends in NCAA Student-Athlete Gambling Behaviors and Attitudes. National Collegiate Athletic Association4. (Link to Research)

Derevensky JL, Paskus T. Mind, body and sport: Gambling among student-athletes. NCAA.org. November 5, 2014. Accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2014/11/5/mind-body-and-sport-gambling-among-student-athletes.aspx?print=true. (Link to Research)

Barnes, G. M., Welte, J. W., Tidwell, M. C., & Hoffman, J. H. (2013). Effects of Neighborhood Disadvantage on Problem Gambling and Alcohol Abuse. Journal of behavioral addictions, 2(2), 82–89. https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.2.2013.004. (Link to Research)

Welte JW, Barnes GM, Tidwell MC, Hoffman JH. Gambling and problem gambling across the lifespan. J Gambl Stud. 2011 Mar;27(1):49-61. doi: 10.1007/s10899-010-9195-z. PMID: 20499144; PMCID: PMC4383132. (Link to Research)

Barnes GM, Welte JW, Hoffman JH, Tidwell MC. Comparisons of gambling and alcohol use among college students and noncollege young people in the United States. J Am Coll Health. 2010 Mar-Apr;58(5):443-52. doi: 10.1080/07448480903540499. PMID: 20304756; PMCID: PMC4104810. (Link to Research)

Harvard Medical School, and the National Center for Responsible Gaming. (2009). (rep.). A CALL TO ACTION Addressing College Gambling: Recommendations for Science-Based Policies and Programs. Retrieved December 5, 2023, from http://www.divisiononaddiction.org/html/publications/College_Report_Full.pdf. (Link to Research)v

Further Reading

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