problem & pathological gambling

Problem Gambling

The National Council on Problem Gambling says problem gambling is "gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational.  The term "Problem Gambling" includes, but is not limited to, the condition known as "Pathological", or "Compulsive" Gambling."

The term "problem gambling" is sometimes used to refer to people who don't meet the diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling but are thought to be in the early stages of the pathological gambling disorder. 

• Signs of Problem Gambling

Pathological Gambling

Pathological gambling is considered a more serious form of problem gambling.  We often hear the term "gambling addiction" applied to pathological gambling.

According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual oriental Disorders (4th ed., 1994), pathological (or compulsive) gambling is a persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior as indicated by five or more of the following criteria:

1. The individual is preoccupied with gambling (i.e. preoccupied with reliving past gambling experiences, handicapping or planning the next venture, or thinking of ways to get money with which to gamble).
2. The individual needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money in order to achieve the desired excitement.
3. The individual has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop gambling.
4. The individual is restless or irritable with attempting to cut down or stop gambling.
5. The individual gambles as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (i.e., feeling of helplessness, guilty, anxiety, and depression).
6. The individual after losing money gambling often returns another day to get even ("chasing" one's losses).
7. The individual lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling.
8. The individual has committed illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theft, or embezzlement to finance gambling.
9. The individual has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, education or career opportunity because of gambling.
10. The individual relies on others to provide money or relieve a desperate financial situation caused by gambling.