Abstract
The relationship between crime and gambling is well established; however, few studies have examined offending specifically to finance gambling within a UK gambling treatment-seeking population. A total of 1226 treatment-seeking gamblers completed the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), Patient Health Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 item scale, and were asked whether they had committed any illegal behaviours to finance gambling. A total of 42.5% reported offending behaviour. A greater proportion of the offending group was single or married/cohabiting, had a lower level qualifications, lower income, had experienced childhood abuse, family mental health problems and gambling-related harms compared with the non-offending group. Offenders reported higher anxiety, depression and disordered gambling scores. Disordered gamblers who offend make up a discrete and complex subgroup with distinct vulnerabilities. Findings will be useful to clinicians involved in the assessment and management of problematic gambling. Gamblers who offend to finance gambling may have different treatment needs and treatment providers should administer appropriate clinical interventions to address vulnerabilities.
Highlights
The relationship between crime and gambling is well established; few studies have examined offending to finance gambling within a UK gambling treatment-seeking population
In studies of 60 Gamblers Anonymous attendees in Canada, 68% of gamblers indicated that they had engaged in illegal activities, and 17% of gamblers had appeared in court as a consequence of gambling-related crime (Ladouceur et al 1994)
The overall prevalence of offending behaviour to finance gambling reported in those presenting to the National Problem Gambling Clinic (NPGC) was 42.5% (42.7% of males and 39.8% of females)
Summary
The relationship between crime and gambling is well established; few studies have examined offending to finance gambling within a UK gambling treatment-seeking population. Several studies have shown that prisoners tend to be impulsive and poor decision-makers in risky situations with a reduced sense of regret (Hughes et al 2014; Pachur et al 2010; Varghese et al 2014; Yechiam et al 2008) This may explain participation in criminal behaviour and why the prevalence of gambling is much higher than in the general population; as disordered gambling severity escalates, illegal behaviour has been shown to increase (Lahn 2005). In North America, offending behaviour was assessed in a sample of problem gamblers who contacted a gambling helpline and 43.7% reported committing criminal acts directly related to gambling (Potenza et al 2001). Problem gamblers with a history of arrest are more likely to have antisocial personality disorder (Potenza et al 2000) and depression (Momper et al 2010), and individuals who engage in gambling-related crime are more likely to have experienced suicidality (Ledgerwood et al 2005)
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