Simultaneous Drinking and Gambling: A Risk Factor for Pathological Gambling

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of simultaneous drinking and gambling on negative consequences from gambling. Data was analyzed from a national telephone survey of 2631 US residents aged 18 or older. Males were more likely than females to drink while gambling. Simultaneous drinking and gambling was more closely associated with video keno, pull tabs, dice (not in a casino) and casino gambling than with other types of gambling. Those who drank while gambling were more likely to be problem gamblers, even when holding constant frequency of gambling, size of the average win or loss, and average alcohol consumption. Those gamblers who are drinkers, but did not drink while gambling, had a prevalence of problem gambling of close to zero. They had a lower prevalence of problem gambling than gamblers who didn’t drink alcohol at all in the past year, and a much lower prevalence than those who drank while gambling. These results were interpreted to mean that simultaneous drinking and gambling is an indicator of a more reckless gambler. The results did not support the theory that gambling while under the influence of alcohol causes more risky gambling behavior.