Serious Gamblers Have Other Problems, Too

As casinos proliferate in the US, the number of gambler increases. And, of course, the number of compulsive, or problem, gamblers also increases. For the first time, it’s been shown that gamblers have an increased risk of ill-health, compared to non-gamblers.

A study of data from 43,000 Americans, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, found that more than a quarter of them gambled at least 5 times a year – this included playing cards for money, gambling at casinos, betting on horses, dogs, or sports, buying lottery tickets, and playing the stock market. Around 1% were considered to be ‘problem gamblers’, with less than 0.5% identified as ‘pathological gamblers’.

Overall, people who gamble more than 5 times a year have more health problems than those who gamble less. Pathological gamblers are likely to report serious health problems – coronary artery disease (angina), and cirrhosis of the liver. These risks persist even when adjustments are made for smoking and drinking, two lifestyle habits that seem to go along with gambling.

With the growth of online gambling, the difficulties are only likely to get worse. There’s obviously plenty of space for an organization like Gambler’s Anonymous, which has an approach to gambling similar to AA’s. Let’s hope their success rate is as high.