Problem Gambling Research Articles

Defining treatment response in gambling disorder

BackgroundGambling disorder is a common mental health condition, and a growing cause of concern globally. Despite the availability of well-validated self-report and clinical instruments to measure symptom severity, there has been no study to establish optimal thresholds for determining treatment response based on these measures. MethodsData from 553 participants (aged 18-65 years) who had participated in previous pharmacological and psychotherapeutic clinical trials for gambling disorder were aggregated. Studies were included that collected Clinical Global Impression Improvement (CGI-I) at end-of-study (reference standard), as well as baseline and end-of-study symptom severity using the Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (GSAS) and/or the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Modified for Pathological Gambling (PG-YBOCS). Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analyses were conducted to identify optimal thresholds for determining treatment response. ResultsGreater than 50% improvement in PG-YBOCS and 35% improvement in GSAS were the optimal thresholds for defining treatment response. For the PG-YBOCS, the cutoff had acceptable sensitivity and specificity (85.0%, 83.0%) and area under the curve of 0.904. For the GSAS, the cutoff had acceptable sensitivity and specificity (81.2%, 73.4%), and area under the curve of 0.859. ConclusionsThis study provides useful thresholds on two widely used, valid outcome measures for gambling disorder, in terms of determining treatment response or absence thereof. These thresholds may be useful for clinical practice at the level of individual patients, but also for future clinical trials.

Gambling disorder and its associated factors in university students

Abstract Background Gambling disorder (GD) is defined as persistent and uncontrollable gambling behaviour that has negative effects on an individual’s life. This can lead to financial problems, poor academic performance, and health problems. GD has been associated with psychological disorders like depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We aimed to examine the gambling disorder and its associated factors in university students. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among students at a university in Eskisehir (Türkiye) in 2024. A stratified random sample design was used. Five faculties were randomly selected. A total of 1,201 students were included according to the stratum weight of the faculties. A questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), and Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) was applied. Data were analysed through descriptive statistical analyses and multivariate logistic regression models. Results The mean age was 21.5±2.8 years, and 46.8% were male. While 48.7% of the students stated that they had gambled at least once, 2.2% had a gambling disorder. The three most common types of gambling played by students were stock market (28.2%), bet on sports (22.0%), and scratch cards (18.2%). In multivariate analysis, being male (Odds ratio-OR:6.5, 95%CI:1.4-29.8), having lost years during education (OR:2.7, 1.1-6.8), having relatives with gambling problems (OR:8.0, 1.8-36.2), investing greater amounts of money in gambling (OR:3.7, 1.0-13.0), and having a high probability of ADHD (OR:4.3, 1.4-12.8) were found to be predictors for GD. Conclusions Although about half of the students had engaged in gambling activities, only a small proportion showed signs of GD. We can conclude that being male, having lost years in education, having relatives with gambling problems, investing larger amounts of money in gambling, and having a higher probability of ADHD are predictors of GD among students. Key messages • Implementing educational campaigns at universities to raise awareness of the potential risks and consequences associated with GD could be beneficial. • It may be helpful if mental health services at the university were equipped to consider mental health conditions such as ADHD, that contribute to GD.

Gambling Disorder among Croatian University Students

Abstract Background Gambling has become a routine form of entertainment for many young people studying in universities. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of gambling disorder among Croatian university students. Methods A cross-sectional study using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire with sociodemographic and socioeconomic questions along with the Croatian version of the South Oaks Gambling Screen questionnaire (SOGS-CRO) was conducted in a representative sample of Croatian university students from Osijek, Eastern Croatia during January, and February 2020. Results A total of 844 students participated in the study, 45.6% males and 54.4% females, with a median age of 19.00 years (interquartile range 19.00-23.00 years). Gambling activities were performed by 66.2% of the students, most commonly lotteries, sports bets, and bingo. The final scores of the SOGS-CRO suggested that 21.1% of students may have a gambling disorder, with 16.4% being “probable pathological gamblers” and 4.7% being “problem gamblers”. Playing cards for money, animal bets, stocks bets, slot machines bets, pull-tabs, and other gambling activities such as online or videogames or mobile games present a higher risk of gambling disorder (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Being male, repeating the year of study, being a student in interdisciplinary or technical field of study, and having a mother with gambling disorder (p < 0.001, p = 0.029, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively) were the revealed contributing factors to the development of gambling disorder in study participants. Conclusions The study points to the fact that gambling disorder is quite a prevalent public health issue in the Croatian university student population. Specific public health preventive programs need to be designed and implemented in the study population to successfully prevent the development of investigated behavioral addiction. Key messages • Public health interventions directed toward the prevention of gambling must involve younger population subgroups, such as university students. • When designing the preventive programs for the successful prevention of gambling within the university student population selected sociodemographic variables should be considered.

Smoking, alcohol, substance, technology, and gambling addiction among university students

Abstract Background University students turn to addictive substances to cope with the anxiety and stress caused by separation from family, adaptation to a new environment, as well as many economic and social problems. This study aimed to examine smoking, alcohol, substance, technology, and gambling addiction among university students. Methods The data of this cross-sectional study were collected between February and March 2024. The study population consisted of 23,446 people studying at Ä°nonu University, and the sample size was calculated as 346 based on a smoking rate of 35.6% among university students. A stratified sampling method was adopted according to the faculty of study, and 366 people were approached regarding the study. The independent variables were age, gender, faculty of study, and smoking status, while the dependent variables were alcohol and substance use status. Descriptive data were expressed in numbers and percentages, and a Chi-square test was used in the statistical analysis. Results Of the students in the research group, 56.8% were female, 54.4% were 22 years of age or older, 30.1% reported smoking cigarettes, 7.7% reported drinking alcohol in the last 30 days, 39.2% reported using the internet for five hours or more per day, 3% reported playing various casino games on the internet once a week or more, and 1.4% stated that they used substances. There was no statistically significant difference between alcohol and substance use according to smoking status (p > 0.05). Conclusions Approximately one-third of the students in the research group reported smoking cigarettes, and one-tenth reported alcohol use, which is quite high. The high percentage of students who use the internet for five hours or more per day and the low rate of online gambling should be considered in relation to these addictions. Key messages • Multidimensional interventions and intersectoral cooperation are required to prevent smoking, alcohol, substance use, technology, and gambling addictions among university students. • In addition, precautions should be taken to protect students against the risks associated with internet addiction and online gaming.

Harming the innocent: estimating the number of children affected by parental problem gambling

Abstract Background The impact of parental problem gambling on children and adolescents encompasses negative outcomes in psychological, financial, behavioral, physical health, and family relationship domains. For Germany, estimates on the number of co-affected minors are lacking. Methods Within the population-representative Germany-wide “Glücksspielsurvey 2023” (i.e., “Gambling Survey 2023”), we assessed parenthood in survey participants with gambling disorder (GD; according to DSM-5) as well as the number of minors (age <18 years) living a) together with a person with gambling disorder (shared household) or b) apart from a parent with gambling disorder (separate household). Using a “minimum maximum approach,” we performed a weighted extrapolation to estimate the number of co-affected minors in the German resident population (range 18 to 70 years of age) and the prevalence of parental GD among Germany-residing minors. Results 46.8% (n = 132) of survey participants with GD report shared households with minors and 16.3% (n = 46) separate households. The average number of minors concerned was 1.55 (SD = 0.07) in shared and 1.51 (SD = 0.13) in separate households. This translates into 480,294 to 701,766 co-affected children in shared households (3.4% to 4.9% of Germany-residing minors) and 91,742 to 124,618 co-affected children in separate households (0.6% to 0.9% of Germany-residing minors). Discussion and conclusions Taking shared and separate households into account, one in 20 Germany-residing minors is co-affected by parental GD. Acknowledging that impaired psychosocial wellbeing in the context of parental GD could persist into adulthood of co-affected minors, this issue ought to be recognized as a major public health concern. To reduce related harm, children of people with GD should be best possibly integrated into the care process by offering additional help and support strategies explicitly addressed at this vulnerable population. Key messages • Parental problem gambling significantly impacts a substantial portion of German minors, with approximately one in 20 being affected, highlighting the urgent need for attention to this issue. • Recognizing parental gambling’s long-term impact on minors, it’s crucial to implement support strategies in care to address their needs effectively.

7.N. Round table: Social media & smartphones: Threats to child & adolescent health and public health solutions

Abstract The daily lives of children and adolescents in 2024 are heavily influenced by social media and smartphones, which is unprecedented in previous generations. While this technology offers undoubted benefits, there is strong evidence on the negative effects of social and cognitive development of infants and primary school aged children, and mental health impacts in adolescents including depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, addictive behaviours and self-harm. Internet companies are financially incentivised to maximise screen time of users to generate advertising revenue, and more time spent by young people on these devices in a largely unregulated online domain increases risk of consequences like bullying and harassment, body dysmorphia, gambling addiction, porn addiction, sexual predation and suicide. Comprehensive solutions are urgently needed to regulate the activities of social media and tech companies and support young people to protect themselves from serious harms. Governments have been slow to introduce policies such as smartphone bans or enhanced privacy laws, perhaps because they are perceived as unpopular infringements on the rights of adult users and/or due to a potential detrimental effect on commercial interests. Guidance can be disseminated to young people, schools, families and institutions on how to reduce screen time and smartphone addiction, and improve coping and self-regulation to mitigate these risks. Information campaigns with positive health messages in this area, to compete with the advertising dominance of social media companies, are another opportunity to improve behaviours and reduce adverse health effects. The objectives of this round table workshop are to share examples of strategies, guidance and policies from across Europe, and discuss with the audience how the public health community can collaborate to tackle this problem. Members of the EUPHA Child and Adolescent Public Health (CAPH) section will outline the latest available evidence on the negative impacts of social media and screens, present examples of innovative public health responses and strategies to protect children, and engage conference participants for their input and discussion. Five panellists will present. First, John will start with a quiz of the audience which will include presentation of current data and trends relating to social media and smartphone usage. The second presentation by Cecilia will highlight in detail evidence of both benefits and adverse effects of these technologies in the lives of young people. The third speaker Karin will discuss examples of effective policies to reduce this impact, with a focus on the role of schools. The fourth speaker Jean will give further examples of public health actions, and share recommendations directly from children and young people. The fifth panellist Silja will re-quiz the audience, to gauge the reaction and support of solutions that were covered, and this will lead into the interactive discussion. Key messages • Popularity of smartphones and social media has increased dramatically in recent years, particularly among minors, with significant impacts on mental and physical health. • Public health solutions are urgently needed, and this workshop will share examples of effective innovative responses in European contexts, followed by an interactive audience discussion.

Co-planning as a public health tool: the Milan Health Protection Agencies’s Local Gambling Plan

Abstract Issue/problem Gambling represents a public health, social, and economic problem. Lombardy Region, according with national and regional law, has approved the Regional Plan for the prevention and contrast of Pathological Gambling. The Health Protection Agencies (HPA) of the Metropolitan City of Milan, as the other HPAs, implemented the Local Gambling Plan, based on a context analysis and in synergy with all the actors involved. Description of the problem Since 2019, the Milan HPA’s Local Gambling Plan has been implemented through collaboration with non-profit entities (TSEs), which are involved via public tendering. The implementation of the new Italian ‘Code of the Third Sector’ changed the TSEs engagement modalities. For this reason, a complex co-planning process has been initiated in order to increase the level of active citizenship and to enhance public health, in line with horizontal subsidiarity principle. Results The Co-planning procedure promoted the integration among local health services, non-profit entities and municipalities with the aim of gambling prevention and contrast, ensuring the continuity of prevention programs and the involvement of local stakeholders in addressing a public health issue. During the co-planning, 9 working groups were established to define objectives, project actions, monitoring and evaluation methods, ensuring the common interest of all actors involved. Lessons For the health and social system, the co-planning procedure becomes an opportunity to translate what is foreseen by the regulations into local actions. It allow the active participation of local stakeholders involved into the co-construction and achievement of public health objectives and the promotion of communities’ empowerment. Key messages • Co-planning is both a process and a tool for local welfare. • Co-planning involved multiple actors, among which the public institution that ensures satisfaction of health needs through governance actions.

Risk factors for the gambling, smoking and alcohol consumption triad in Portuguese adolescents

Abstract Background Addiction to gambling, tobacco, and alcohol poses significant risks to mental, social, and physical health, particularly during adolescence, a critical period for habit formation. This study investigates risk factors linked to these habits among Portuguese adolescents. Methods This cross-sectional study used the 2019 ESPAD questionnaire, targeting 16-year-old adolescents. The sample comprised 4,365 responses. Descriptive analysis determined the prevalence of gambling, smoking, and alcohol use, as well as social, economic, and behavioral factors. Bivariate associations were assessed using the Exact Fisher test, and multiple logistic regression identified key predictors for the outcome of interest (cumulative presence of gambling, smoking and alcohol consumption). Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS version 29.0, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results Among adolescents, 6.2% presented probable problematic gambling according to the Lie/Bet test, with 3.7% spending at least 30 minutes a day gambling. In the past 30 days, 14.3% smoked, 42.7% drank alcohol, and 10.5% engaged in binge drinking. The behavioral triad was observed in 56 individuals. Male gender (OR = 2.024; 95% CI: 1.097-3.734; p = 0.024), problematic online gaming behavior (OR = 2.041; 95% CI: 1.005-4.144; p = 0.048) and going out at night at least once a week (OR = 1.439; 95% CI: 1.242-1.669; p < 0.001) significantly increased the risk of the behavioral triad. In contrast, parental control (parents knowing where the adolescent is on Saturday night) had a significant protective effect (OR = 0.162; 95% CI: 0.086-0.303; p < 0.001). Conclusions The study underscores the importance of parental supervision to curb risky behaviors in adolescents. It suggests implementing public health programs in schools, leveraging gaming for early screening, and tightening online gambling regulations to mitigate future health risks associated with gambling, smoking, and alcohol use. Key messages • Absence of parental supervision, male gender, problematic online gaming and frequently going out at night are risk factors for this behavioral triad. • Public health strategies are needed to prevent gambling addiction, emphasizing parental awareness, identification of at-risk students, and comprehensive school-based approaches.

The prevalence of adolescent problem gambling: examining sociodemographic risk factors in New Mexico

ABSTRACT Problem gambling in adolescence can lead to significant negative consequences, yet few studies have examined the prevalence and risk factors among diverse youth populations. This study investigated gambling and related non-gambling activities and sociodemographic correlates of problem gambling in 2,533 high-school students in New Mexico aged 12–18 years (mean age 15.6), with an approximately equal gender distribution (49.3% male, 49.3% female, 1.4% unspecified). Overall, 3% screened positive for problem gambling, with higher rates among males (3.9%) than females (2.1%), Native American (4.5%), and Hispanic (3.3%) versus white (1.5%) students. In-person activities were more common than online activities for both gambling and non-gambling activities. Substance use behaviors, including binge drinking, e-cigarette, marijuana, and prescription painkiller use, were more prevalent among people with gambling problems. Controlling for demographics, the interaction between Hispanic ethnicity and past 30-day binge drinking was positively associated with problem gambling. A risk score combining substance use and housing instability also positively predicted problem gambling. These findings demonstrate sociodemographic and substance use risk factors for problem gambling among New Mexico adolescents. The study highlights the importance of considering diverse ethnic backgrounds and co-occurring risk behaviors in developing targeted prevention and intervention strategies for adolescent problem gambling across various cultural contexts.

“I Don’t Have Any Limits”: A Qualitative Analysis of Individual Gambling Self-Control Strategies

Despite existing knowledge on self-control strategies in the context of problem gambling, further insight is needed to understand a broader spectrum of self-control strategies among individuals who span the continuum of problem gambling. This qualitative study drew on the experiences and perceptions of individuals engaging in recreational gambling as well as those at the at-risk and problem gambling levels to explore various self-control strategies and their nuances. Thirty semi-structured interviews, guided by open-ended questions exploring how gamblers define and practice responsible gambling and their understanding of responsible gambling interventions, were conducted in Quebec, Canada. Thematic analysis identified three main themes: setting limits on frequency, time, and spending, playing smart (i.e., mindful gambling), and recognizing strategy limitations. Despite employing various strategies, participants struggled to maintain self-control. Maintaining self-control was particularly difficult for those with higher Problem Gambling Severity Index scores. These findings underscore the complexities of managing gambling behavior and, more specifically, these findings contribute to understanding the role of self-control in mitigating gambling problems. This study highlights the need to focus on developing comprehensive support systems and harm minimization measures within gambling environments to better support individuals across the gambling spectrum.

Gambling-related attitudes and dimensional structure of the GABS-15 in outpatient addiction care patients: associations with gambling disorder.

Individuals with gambling disorder (GD) harbor cognitive distortions and dysfunctional beliefs about gambling that may foster problematic gambling behaviour. Evidence on particularly detrimental attitudes and beliefs is however lacking. To close this knowledge gap, we analysed associations between gambling attitudes and beliefs (Gambling Attitudes and Beliefs Survey (GABS-15)) and severity of gambling disorder (DSM-5 criteria met) in a German cohort of 123 individuals receiving outpatient gambling treatment. Data from the "Katamnese-Study" covering a 36-months timeframe with 5 assessment points was pooled. The multidimensional structure of the GABS-15 was examined using explorative and confirmatory factor analyses, followed by mixed-effect regression models using different operationalizations of the GABS-15. A three-factorial structure comprising "attitudes while gambling", "sensation-seeking / excitement", and "gambling fallacies" demonstrated better fit indices than the GABS-15 sum score. Only the "gambling fallacies " factor (1.00, p<0.05; 15.36, p < 0.01) was significantly associated with increased severity of GD. As a one-dimensional conceptualization of gambling-related attitudes and beliefs might not sufficiently guide staff of outpatient treatment facilities regarding priority setting in gambling care, evidence on attitudes with particularly detrimental associations is highly warranted. Here, focussing on mitigating "gambling' fallacies" by tailored treatment strategies appears promising.

Comparing ‘fair’ machine learning models for detecting at-risk online gamblers

ABSTRACT Researchers have worked to develop machine learning models that detect at-risk online gamblers, enabling personalized harm prevention tools. However, existing research has not evaluated these models’ potential to reinforce or amplify sociodemographic biases leading to treatment disparity, a recognized issue in the machine learning field. We sought to develop and compare three examples of potentially fair models using online gambling data. In two large samples of transaction data from a provincially owned Canadian gambling website (N1 = 9,145, N2 = 10,716), we developed three machine learning models based on competing concepts of fairness: fairness via unawareness, classification parity, and outcome calibration. We hypothesized that significant relationships existed between reporting a high risk of past-year gambling problems (the dependent variable) and participants’ age and sex. Further, we hypothesized that the three ‘fair’ models would show differing levels of classification performance both in aggregate and within sociodemographic groups. Significant age and sex effects were found, refuting the fairness via unawareness modeling strategy. Superiority across all performance metrics was not present for either of the remaining models. For the fairest practices in any jurisdiction, classification parity and outcome calibration models should be tested in situ, and incorporate the perspectives and preferences of end users who will be affected.

Online gambling addiction: Problems and solutions for policymakers and stakeholders in Indonesia

Online gambling addiction: Problems and solutions for policymakers and stakeholders in Indonesia

The active foundations of the illusion of control: an experimental test of the Henslin effect

The mistaken belief that personal control can affect the outcomes of random events is seen as a core part of disordered gamblers’ irrational beliefs via the ‘illusion of control’. The present study tests the extent of action-based manifestation of the illusion of control in a dice-rolling game, which provides a novel controlled test of a claim first made by Henslin that craps gamblers tend to shake their dice harder when aiming for higher numbers. We also tested participants’ recent involvement in gambling games and rates of disordered gambling symptomology as two theoretically-informed potential moderators of any effect. An incentivized dice-rolling experiment was programmed for participants’ mobile devices, where device accelerometer data was used to animate the effects of their shaking and to record the dependent variable of shaking strength. 1,692 US-Based participants (Mean age 37.1; 60.7% male) completed 24 trials each, across which the target number that they would win a $1 bonus if rolled was varied from one to six. Participants rolled the dice 4.1% harder for the highest- (six) compared to lowest-number (one). However, the effect did not vary based on participants’ recent engagement with various gambling games, and also did not correlate with gamblers’ Problem Gambling Severity Index scores. These results uniquely demonstrate a small Henslin effect, but also challenge theoretical accounts that illusion of control effects should be higher in people with greater familiarity with a given situation (i.e. relevant gambling games), or who have higher levels of disordered gambling symptomatology.

Illusions of control: A quasi-experiment comparing skill-based and traditional slotmachines.

Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) are a significant source of gambling spend due to their widespread use. Skill-based gambling machines (SGMs) represent an innovative adaptation, merging EGMs' chance-based rewards with video game-like skills. This study aimed to explore the appeal and behavioural consequences of playing SGMs in comparison to traditional reel-based EGMs, particularly focusing on illusions of control, betting behaviour, and the subjective experience of gamblers. Participants (N = 1,260) were recruited online and engaged in an online task simulating either an SGM or a reel-based EGM, with outcomes represented to influence their survey compensation. The study examined the effect of SGMs relative to EGMs on bet size, persistence, enjoyment, illusionsofcontrol, game immersion, and the influence of demographic and gambling problem severity. SGMs particularly appealed to younger adults, regular EGM players, and people with more gambling problems. Despite identical payout structures, people assigned to play SGM showed greater illusions of control, believing in the influence of skill on game outcomes and that practice could improveresults. However, there was no significant difference in overall betting intensity between SGM and EGM players, although specific demographic groups showed faster betting speeds in SGMs. SGMs, despite not inherently encouraging higher betting intensity, attract vulnerable groups and create illusions of control, posing new regulatory challenges. The visual and interactive features of SGMs, while appealing, might contribute to these perceptions, indicating a need for careful regulation and further research on their long-term impacts on gambling behaviour and harm.

Patterns and Challenges in Help-Seeking for Addiction among Men: A Systematic Review.

Background/Objectives: Addictive and substance-related disorders represent a substantial public health challenge, marked by rising incidence and prevalence rates. Men and women exhibit different patterns of help-seeking for health and social issues including addictions. This research aimed to analyze the help-seeking process among men with addiction to improve understanding and develop more effective, person-centered treatments. Methods: This systematic review was performed based on the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The protocol of the revision was registered in advance in PROSPERO. Searches were conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS) databases. Results: Based on the literature search, 16 studies were included in the current systematic review. The analyzed studies included seven on substance-use disorders, three on gambling disorder, two on tobacco-use disorder, two addressing substance-related disorders in general, one on opioid-use disorder, and one focused on marijuana use. Gender differences influenced help-seeking behavior, with women generally exhibiting a higher propensity to seek assistance for addiction-related issues than men. Seeking help for addiction-whether substance use or gambling-can be hindered by several barriers, particularly public stigma and discrimination, which tend to be more pronounced for alcohol and gambling compared to tobacco. Additional barriers in the help-seeking process include negative beliefs and attitudes toward seeking help, often associated with traditional male gender roles. Each substance-use disorder was analyzed in depth to gain a better understanding of the barriers faced by this population. Conclusions: Integrating a gender perspective into the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of addiction is essential. As addiction patterns vary between men and women, approaches must be tailored accordingly. Recognizing men as a distinct group in research and clinical practice is also crucial for developing more effective and personalized treatments.

International practice of state regulation in the field of gambling

State regulation in the field of gambling is an important factor for the harmonization of these relations and their adjustment. Currently, world practice does not have special legislation that would establish international requirements for the organization and conduct of gambling. However, the development of gambling business in other countries of the world has a long history and considerable experience of successful state regulation of these legal relations. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to study similar practices of other states and their possible consideration for further improvement of state regulation in the field of gambling in Ukraine. The article presents certain aspects of state regulation of activities related to the organization and conduct of gambling in some countries of Europe (Switzerland, France, Malta) and North America (United States of America, Canada). It is emphasized that public management and administration in the field of gambling should be aimed at solving the main problems of this sphere of social relations: meeting the needs and interests of a certain group of people; prevention of gambling; protection of citizens from criminal encroachments that pose a danger to a large segment of the population; full and timely receipt of taxes provided for by law to the state budget and their allocation to socially important needs; prevention of types of gambling addiction not permitted by law; combating corruption offenses and legalization (laundering) of proceeds obtained through crime, etc. As evidenced by international practice, in order to solve these problems and eliminate existing problems and risks in this area, a more or less permanent trend is developing in the world (for those countries in which gambling is allowed and controlled): the adoption at the national level of a special regulatory law (legal act); creation of a system of relevant authorized state bodies of public administration with the distribution of organizational, permitting, supervisory and jurisdictional powers; maintenance of the necessary balance of public interests and the interests of business entities and individuals by introducing a system of permissive, agreeable and prohibitive methods of legal regulation and relevant organizational and legal measures.

Associations between loot box purchasing and gambling behaviours, financial problems, and low mental wellbeing in a household sample from a British island, a cross-sectional study

Abstract Aim This study estimated the prevalence of loot box purchasing and associated sociodemographic factors in a general population of a British island, and explored relationships between loot box purchasing and gambling behaviours, financial problems, and mental wellbeing. Subject and methods A cross-sectional survey was undertaken using representative household and supplementary convenience samples with (n = 1,234) residents of a British island aged 16 + years. The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was used to assess gambling harm. Financial problems in the past year were defined as having been behind with payments for expenses. The Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale was used to measure mental wellbeing. Purchasing loot boxes in the past year was measured via self-report as: ‘In the last 12 months, have you purchased in-game loot boxes (e.g. weapons, armour, players for a virtual sports team)?’. Analyses were performed using χ2 and binary logistic regressions. Results 5.9% of participants purchased loot boxes in the past year. There was no significant association between purchasing loot boxes and PGSI score. After controlling for sociodemographics and PGSI score, those who purchased loot boxes in the past year were 3.39 (1.42–8.11; p &lt; 0.01) times more likely to experience financial problems, and 2.99 times (1.46–6.13; p &lt; 0.01) more likely to have low mental wellbeing, compared to those who didn’t purchase loot boxes. Conclusion Findings in the current study suggest that purchasing loot boxes is associated with increased odds of experiencing financial problems and low mental wellbeing, independently of gambling behaviours.

A Response to "A Meta-Review to Guide Military Screening and Treatment of Gambling Problems".

A Response to "A Meta-Review to Guide Military Screening and Treatment of Gambling Problems".

Examining problem gambling, substance use disorders and cluster B personality traits among incarcerated individuals

Prison populations face heightened rates of addictive behaviors and significant stressors, including health challenges and social disparities. Although problem gambling is prevalent in criminal justice settings, its distinctiveness compared to other addictions among incarcerated individuals remains uncertain. This study examines risk factors associated with problem gambling in Finnish prisoners and explores differences compared to other forms of addiction.Covariates from a questionnaire (N = 527) included gender, age, education, offender status, involvement in theft or property crime, Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ), Depression Scale (DEPS), and lifetime abuse experiences. Of the 527 participants, 330 were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-II) to assess personality disorders. Multiple logistic regression models were utilized, with separate models for problem gambling (PG), lifetime substance use disorder, and lifetime alcohol disorder.Crime type was not significantly associated with alcohol or substance use problems, but PG was associated with property crime or theft convictions. Borderline personality traits were linked to probable PG, while antisocial traits were linked to drug use, and both traits predicted alcohol misuse. Age and gender were significant only in relation to alcohol use problems, with older age and male gender indicating higher risk.The association between problem gambling and criminal behavior underscores the vulnerability of incarcerated individuals across various domains. Detailed assessments, considering the nature of criminal activity and personality disorders, especially borderline traits and comorbid conditions, are crucial for tailoring rehabilitation and treatment strategies to prevent recidivism. These findings provide valuable insights for clinicians managing addiction and mental health issues within correctional settings.