Prevention of Problem Gambling: Addressing Special Populations
Jim WuelfingOwner and Principle AssociateThe New England [email protected]
2014 Prevention and Recovery ConferenceInspiration. Connection. Motivation.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Have your prevention work based in tested theory, research and data
Use a tested prevention planning model Using multiple strategies over multiple
domains Use evidenced-based strategies Reduce risk and enhance protective factors Utilizing best practices
Assessment Capacity Building Planning Implementation Evaluation All under the umbrella of cultural
competence and sustainability
Information Dissemination
Prevention Education
Alternative Activities
Community-Based Processes
Environmental Approaches
Problem Identification and Referral
Individual Peer Family School/work Community Society/environmental
Protective factors – Factors that decrease the chances of someone (or a community) developing health and behavioral problems are called protective factors. Having multiple protective factors can override risk factors.
Risk factors - Factors that increase the chances of someone developing health and behavior problems are called risk factors. Individuals, families and communities which possess these factors are considered at risk. Those that possess several are considered high risk.
The next thirteen slides are taken from the research of:
Dr. Robert WilliamsProfessor, Faculty of Health
Sciences Coordinator, Alberta Gaming
Research InstituteUniversity of Lethbridge;
Lethbridge, Alberta
Young Age (18 – 25) Young people engage in high-risk behavior more than
other age groups Today’s is the first generation in many years to be
raised with legal gambling widely available.
Males Males tend to take more risks than females
Started gambling at an early age
Friends that gamble
Parents that are heavy or problem gamblers PGs 3–8 times more likely to have parent, brother, or
sister with a gambling problem.
Having an early big win at gambling Most problem gamblers had the misfortune of
experiencing a big win when they first started playing.
Playing rapid forms of gambling with a high frequency of betting and reinforcement
EGMs, table games
Availability of gambling opportunities Related to legality and/or proximity
Societal acceptance of gambling
Race/Ethnicity Indigenous people Asian ancestry
Reasons for Gambling To escape To win money
Importance of Money as a measure of ‘success’ as a way to solve problems
Gambling Fallacies Not understanding how gambling works or having
erroneous beliefs about how gambling works
Impulsivity ADHD and risk-taking tendencies also related
Mental Health Problems Particularly Mood Disorders and Anxiety Disorders
Having other addictions Majority of problem gamblers are smokers High rates of co-morbid alcoholism and drug abuse
1. You are born with biological propensities that increase or decrease your susceptibility of engaging in gambling and/or developing problem gambling.
Self-controlled ↔↔ Impulsive
Risk aversive ↔↔ Risk seeking
No predisposition to addiction ↔↔ Predisposition to
addictionNo predisposition to mental
health problems ↔↔ Predisposition to mental health problems
2. These propensities shaped by environmental experience to either further increase or decrease risk.
Nurturing/Disciplined upbringing ↔↔ Abusive/Neglectful upbringing
Parental nongambling ↔↔ Parental gambling
Peer group nongambling ↔↔ Peer group gambling
Societal nonacceptance of gambling ↔↔ Societal acceptance of gambling
Gambling not readily available ↔↔ Gambling readily available
High income ↔↔ Low income
Safe provision of gambling ↔↔ Unsafe provision of gambling
Low stress & high support ↔↔ High stress & low support
3. Continued involvement influenced by biological propensities and environmental experience, combined with psychological makeup and early learning.
Lack of knowledge about gambling
Gambling fallacies
Gambling serving a psychological need
Positive/Rewarding early gambling experiences
5. Whether the behaviour remits or the person progresses to problem gambling depends on the:
Strength of biological propensities + environmental experience + psychological make-up + early learning + and behavioural conditioning
RELATIVE TO
Strength of the negative consequences person begins to experience
Substance Abuse
Antisocial Behaviour
School/Work
Problems
Problem Gambling
Psychological Problems
(depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, poor decision making skills,
poor coping skills)
Poor Health Practices
Interpersonal Problems
People who progress to problem gambling will usually have many associated comorbidities.
Substance Moderation or
Abstinence
Prosocial Behaviour
Positive School/Wo
rk Functionin
g
Non Problem Gambling
Good Psychological
Health (positive self-esteem,
achievement motivation, good decision making skills,
good coping skills)
Good Health Practises
Good social skills and
social support
Similarly, people who do not become problem gamblers often have many associated ‘strengths’.
What are some of the ways that students gamble?
What is the legal age for sports betting in Oklahoma? 18? 21? Other?
What is the legal age to buy scratch tickets or play the lottery in Oklahoma? 16? 18? 21? Other?
What is the legal age for playing cards for money in your home Oklahoma? 16? 18? 21? Other?
Gambling in an increasing phenomena and warrants attention and concern
Gambling at a casino has become a new rite of passage for many students turning 21
Most youth learn to gamble from their parents with an average age of onset of 11.5 years
There is a belief that as gambling becomes more accessible and convenient for teens and young adults, problems will increase
Gambling problems among teens and young adults can remain hidden for a long time, and many school faculty, coaches, and staff are not asking questions of students that might surface these problems
Students gamble for a variety of reasons. Those cited most often include: seeking excitement, a rush, a high…and to
decrease boredom the powerful influence of advertising and
television parental influence and role models teacher/environmental influence and role
models
Parental gambling can lead to serious problems for younger children who are neglected when one or both parents gamble
Gambling by students is common and has led to negative consequences for over 5% of 12th graders
Gambling risk behavior is associated with other risky behavior
There is nearly universal consensus about the need for prevention efforts to prevent future problems. Some respondents to surveys also identified the need for expanded services for youth affected by gambling problems in schools and youth groups.
Other ideas focus on reducing gambling advertising, creating a “higher profile of gambling problems” within local communities as they occur, and to increase the availability of healthy and positive activities for youth so they would not feel bored and be as attracted to gambling
Gender (male) Age (initiation and
game) Substance use Anti-social behavior Parental gambling Depression
Male Competitive Intelligent Risk takers High energy Good students
With part time jobs Popular Usually participates
in athletics Many times children
of substance abusers or gamblers
Little research data on prevalence and consequence.
Anecdotal accounts suggest increasing number of teens/young adults in trouble with gambling. Increasing calls to gambling help lines regarding
teen/young adult gambling Reports of unmanageable debt, problems in school,
violence and resorting to criminal activity to pay debts
Need to be careful not to pathologize a fad, yet recognize that: Although most teens/young adults will not develop
gambling problems, the sheer numbers of those playing will increase the numbers of those needing help.
Poker, like other forms of gambling, carries some degree of personal risk and can lead to a range of negative consequences.
Studies show that students who gamble are more likely to engage in a number of high risk behaviors.
Estimated 6000+ sites and growing daily Estimated 35+ billion dollars in revenue >70% of worldwide Internet gambling
coming from U.S. bettors Illegal in the United States but confusion
around players or sites Available 24/7
Needs credit card or account to play Losses charged to credit card Wins credited to credit card, cashier
check or accounts
Ready access to credit (if over 18) Little awareness of credit issues Computer literacy 24/7 availability Among the highest addiction rates Internet gambling often comes in low
on a list of gambling activities yet high in terms of problems associated with it.
Debt and credit card problems Interpersonal conflict and anger surrounding
lost/owed money Violence (dating violence and violence around debt
collection) Losing and chasing losses Magical and “quick fix” mentality Progression
Frequency of gambling Amount of money Form of gambling
Negative consequences Limited circle of friends, loss of friendships Family conflict School problems (truancy, slipping academic
performance, policy violations) Lying Stealing Loss of self-esteem Depression and suicidality
Adolescent brain development Students who show:
Impulsivity Poor concentration Hyperactivity A need for excitement and risk taking Involvement in other risk behaviors such
as alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
At-risk for a substance abuse problem Having a parent, sibling, relative, friend,
or significant person with either a gambling problem or substance use problem
Having or knowing peers with substance use problems is a risk correlate of youth problem gambling
Anxiety High risk propensity Low perception of risk regarding problem
gambling Early onset of gambling behaviourYOUTH GAMBLING PROBLEMS: THE IDENTIFICATION OF RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS::Report to the Ontario Problem
Gambling Research Centre: Laurie Dickson, M.A.Jeffrey L. Derevensky, Ph.D., Rina Gupta, Ph.D.
Child of a compulsive gambler
Belief that skill is involved
An early big win Feeling that one
must chase gambling loss with more gambling
Early age of onset (8.5 years for pathological gamblers; 11.5 years for non-pathological gamblers)
Large first bets Otherwise addicted
A relationship with a caring adult role model
Having an opportunity to contribute and be seen as a resource
Effectiveness in work, play and relationships
Healthy expectations and a positive outlook
Self-esteem and an internal locus of control
Self-discipline Problem solving and
critical thinking skills A sense of humor
Family connectedness Designing school-based prevention
programs that seek to develop student’s attachment, trust, and identification with larger groups (e.g., school clubs and sports teams, Scouts or Guides).
YOUTH GAMBLING PROBLEMS: THE IDENTIFICATION OF RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS:: Report to the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre: Laurie Dickson, M.A.Jeffrey L. Derevensky, Ph.D., Rina Gupta, Ph.D.
For fun or recreation, never for financial gain
Knowledge that over time nearly everyone loses
Socially with family and friends, not alone
Limited time – frequency and duration
With predetermined limits for losses
Acknowledging that knowing a lot does not make you a better gambler
Always bet with a predetermined amount of money to be lost
Never borrow money to gamble Never gamble illegally Know your personal risk factors Know where to get help Be willing to help others
Gambling is not a risk-free activity. The choice to abstain from gambling as a
regular practice is a legitimate choice that many people make.
We do not want you to gamble illegally ever. If you still choose to gamble, we want you to
know enough about gambling so that you can lower your risk of gambling problems.
CAPS (Creative Activities in Probability and Statistics)
Based on research that showed High rates of incidence and prevalence in
students Critical thinking skills are a protective
factor in the development of addictive disorders
A connection between gambling behavior and knowledge of math
Kinesthetic learning often aids in retention
Twelve Activities
Deal or No Deal Basketball Court Cover-up Target Ball Shoot and Score Parachute Yahtzee Liar’s Dice
Number Mania Ice Cream
Adventure Who Won It? Lifeopoly Delta Three Scavenger Hunt
Examples
Basketball Court Cover-up M&M’s cover a
picture, the pictures cover a newspaper page, the newspaper pages cover a basketball court all in an effort to understand large numbers
Ice Cream Adventure Three flavors of ice
cream, four toppings, five sauces; a delicious exercise in counting possibilities
CAPS Example
Lifeopoly A life-sized board
game where students discover an understanding of number sense, risk and critical thinking
CAPS Example
Parachute Yahtzee Play the games in
teams with large dice and a parachute to demonstrate number sense and predictions
Teens About Gambling (T.A.G.)
Youth empowerment model employed Did own research on youth gambling Attended trainings Developed own vision and mission
statements Developed video and training
curriculum.
T.A.G. Vision and Mission
Vision Statement
We envision a Massachusetts where all teens are empowered to make responsible gambling decisions thus reducing the negative consequences to themselves, their families, and the community.
T.A.G. Vision and Mission
Mission Statement Teens About Gambling (TAG) seeks to
accomplish its vision by: Raising awareness about problem gambling. Providing information and skill development
that supports responsible decision making. Providing resource information. Empowering other teen groups to do the
same.
Evidenced-based curriculum for the prevention of problem gambling among teens and young adults.
Created by Robert Williams, Ph.D., Alberta Gaming Research Institute and Robert Wood, Ph.D., University of Lethbridge, Alberta
Teaches young people to approach life as smart risk-takers, weighing the pros and cons of their actions to determine the odds of achieving positive results.
Teach young people the facts about gambling and related risks.
Encourage responsible decision making.
Prevent young people from becoming problem gamblers.
Six multi-media 35-45 minutes sessions Session 1-3 focus specifically on
gambling Sessions 4-5 more generally about risk
and decision making Session 6 is a booster session designed
to help students retain knowledge and skills learned. It should be delivered a few weeks after the first five sessions
“College Class President Charged in Bank
Robbery”
“Police say 19-year-old Lehigh University student admitted the crime”
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
% of post-secondarystudents gambling
each week
2002
2005
Annenberg Public Policy Center 2002
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2002 2005
% FemaleStudents
% MaleStudents
72% of student of all student athletes have gambled at least once since entering collegeOne in 20 male student athletes admitted:• providing inside information for gambling
purposes• betting on a game in which they
participated, or• accepting money for performing poorly in a
gameStudent athletes who gambled on sports with bookies gambled an average of $225 per month
Cross & Vollano, University of Michigan
4.1%
5.6%
2.3%1.2%
0%
2%
4%
6%
Adolescent College General Adult Pop. Elderly
Carlson & Moore, 1998; Shaffer & Hall, 2001; Moore, 2001; Volberg, 2001
Rate of problem gambling among college students is about 5.6 percent
About 15 percent of college students are at risk for developing gambling problems
Shaffer & Hall 2001
Increased Availability Increased Accessibility Increased Acceptability Increased Marketing
Casino Gambling Online Gambling Sports Betting State Lottery
The casino “that never sleeps” supports its customers 24/7
About 30% of U.S. college students will gamble on sports this year (NCPG)
Only a few states where sports wagering is legal
More than 5,000 Internet casinos All offshore Challenges
Not much oversight Difficult to monitor use Open 24 hours
Among college problem gamblers, significantly greater: tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use binge drinking number of negative outcomes from
drug and alcohol use binge eating and efforts at weight
control
Engwall & Steinberg, 2003
College Athlete Outreach and Training Research indicates that college students are a
high risk group and student athletes are a particular high risk subgroup.
NCAA regulations support addressing the issue. Local campus needs assessment supplied data
and direction for one hour training curriculum development
Training for athletes and coaches Added FBI video Evaluation of program shows promise.
Focus on Older Adults
Gambling in older populations is on the rise The percentage of older Americans who gamble has
doubled in the past 25 years Older adults are aggressively targeted by the gambling
industry Sometimes gambling problems can be hidden for a long
time.
Many older adults do not understand addictions
Older adults may be drawn to gambling to fill their time or to be with other people
Older adults who have gambled away their pensions and savings may have little chance of getting their money back.
Older adults may be more likely to hide their gambling because of the stigma associated with it.
Many older adults have suffered some type of loss such as the death of loved ones or isolation from family and friends; gambling may help fill that loss
Some older adults may have cognitive impairment that interferes with decision-making
Many older adults have limited funds and may see gambling as a way to supplement their finances
Older adult/loved ones may not be aware gambling can be a problem
Shame/ embarrassment attached to stigma May be unwilling to give up their main
entertainment activity Information about problem gambling not
readily available, smaller social circle means less people who may recognize a problem in behavior
Withdrawal from family and friends
Gambling with money meant for other necessities
Gambling on credit Missing personal or
household items Borrowing from family
and friends
Gambling alone Already struggling
with some form of addiction
Lying about or hiding gambling
Only talks about wins, not losses
Betting more than he/she can afford to lose
Recent loss of spouse/partner or friends Retirement Isolation Depression Dementia or other cognitive impairments Chronic illness Financial worries Ease of access to lottery tickets, bingo, and casinos
“Bait and Hook” Staff training “Making the Most of Your Leisure Time”
Any additional questions or comments?
