Jeffrey L' Derevensky, Ph'D'

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Worldwide trends in youth problem gambling

• Jeffrey L. Derevensky, Ph.D.
• Professor, School/Applied Child Psychology
• Professor, Psychiatry
• McGill University

www.youthgambling.com Singapore Problem Gambling
Conference July, 2007
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Gambling as a high risk behavior
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Adapted from Understanding Substance Abuse
Prevention Toward 21st Century Primer on
Effective Programs (P. Brounstein J. Zweig,
1999). Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
(CSAP) Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dickson,
Derevensky, Gupta (2002).
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Societal influences

• Video game mania
• Gambling fund-raisers in schools, religious
  centers
• Social acceptability
• Increased venues
• Internet gambling

• Powerful advertisements
• Lack of prevention and awareness
• Parental modeling
• Web TV, mobile gaming
• Attractive games

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Gambling (gaming) has become normalized in our
society
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Chocolate poker chips for kids Poker chips for
adults
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Slots for kids Slots for adults
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Gambling (gaming) has become glamorized
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Gambling camp?????
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Is gambling dangerous??
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Developmental Issues

• Nature of adolescence (stage of risk-taking,
  experimentation, for acceptance by peers, group
  conformity, etc.)
• First generation of youth exposed to ready access
  and varied gambling venues
• Gambling has become the new rite of passage
• Minimum legal age to place a bet varies across
  states, but many opportunities for 18-year-olds
  in Canada, United States, and around the world

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• Adolescence is a period of profound brain
  maturation.
• Previous belief that brain development was
  complete during childhood
• The maturation process is not complete until
  about age 24!!!

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Youth involvement in addictive behaviors
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Involvement in addictive behaviors

• Total use Weekly use
• Gr 7 Gr 9 Gr 11 Gr 7 Gr 9 Gr 11
• Alcohol 36.8 62.2 79.8 7.4 14.0 20.2
• Drugs 3.5 13.4 26.5 2.7 2.1 9.0
• Cigarettes 18.2 34.5 48.4 7.0 16.1 31.4
• Gambling 79.1 78.9 83.4 30.4 37.4 37.1
• 
  

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Regular involvement in addictive behaviors
Wood, Gupta Derevensky, 2004
Once a week or more.
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• National Research Council (1999) conclusions
• 73 median value youth gambled fairly recently
• 7.7-34.9 of youth problem gambling (broadly
  defined) 15.5 median value
• 1.2-11.2 more narrow definition of problem
  gambling 5.0 median value

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• International youth studies
• U.K., New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Iceland,
  Norway, Sweden, Latvia all suggest similar rates
  of adolescent problem gambling
• Games may differ
• Ages and legislative statutes differ according to
  the games played

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Problem Severity Continuum
Compulsive gambling
At-Risk gambling
Problem gambling
Social gambling
No gambling
Pathological gambling
Habitual gambling
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Youth gambling.
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Reasons why children adolescents gamble (N1040)
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Preferred activities.
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Percentage of children and adolescents engaging
in various gambling activities (N1294)
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Participation in Gambling Activities
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Lottery scratch cards
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New Zealand
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South Australia
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France
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Spain
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U.K.
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H.K.
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China
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Our new field of dreams
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Where do they gamble.
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Reported gambling venues (N1294)
(Derevensky Gupta, 1997 Gupta Derevensky,
1998a)
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With whom do adolescents gamble.
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With whom adolescents gamble (N817)
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Problem gamblers.
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Percentage of adolescents engaging in various
gambling activities (N 817)
grades 7, 9, 11
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Percentage of adolescent gamblers regularly
engaging in various gambling activities
(Once a week or more)
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Reported percentage of substance use (past year)
according to gambling severity (N817)
grades 7, 9, 11
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Percentage of respondents reporting additional
problems according to gambling severity (N817)
(Gupta Derevensky, 1998)
grades 7, 9, 11
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Percentage of respondents who have legal actions
pending against them (N817)
grades 7, 9, 11
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Our current state of knowledge

• Gambling is more popular amongst males than
  females (Derevensky, Gupta Della Cioppa, 1996
  Fisher, 1990 Govoni, Rupcich, Frisch, 1996
  Griffiths, 1989, 2000 2002 Gupta Derevensky,
  1998a Hardoon Derevensky, 2002 Jacobs, 2000,
  in press Ladouceur et al., 1994NORC, 1999 NRC,
  1999 Stinchfield Cassuto, Winters, Latimer,
  1997 Volberg, 19994, 1996, 1998 Wynne et al.,
  1996)
• Adolescent pathological gamblers are greater
  risk-takers (Arnett 1994 Breen Zuckerman,
  1996 Derevensky Gupta, 1996 Nower, Gupta
  Derevensky, in press Powell, Hardoon,
  Derevensky, Gupta 1999 Zuckerman, 1979, 1994
  Zuckerman, Eysenck, Eysenck, 1978)

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• Adolescent prevalence rates of problem gambling
  are 2-4 times that of adults (Gupta Derevensky,
  1998a Jacobs, 2000, 2004 National Research
  Council, 1999 Shaffer Hall, 1996)

• Gambling has become a family activity
• 40-68 of youth gamble with family members (Gupta
  Derevensky, 1997 Moore Ohtsuka, 1997)
• 80-90 of parents report knowing their children
  gamble for money and do not object (Ladouceur,
  Vitaro, Cote Dumont, 2001)
• 77 of adolescents reported their parents
  purchased lottery tickets for them (Derevensky
  Gupta, 2002 Felsher, Derevensky Gupta, 2005)
• Lottery draws remain a popular t.v. show in the
  UK (Griffiths Wood, 2002)

• Few adolescents fear getting caught gambling

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Percentage of children adolescents who fear
being caught while gambling (N1294)
(Gupta Derevensky, 1998c)
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• Adolescents with gambling problems have poor
  general coping skills (Gupta, 1999 Gupta
  Derevensky, 2001 Gupta, Derevensky, Marget,
  2005 Nower, Gupta Derevensky, 2000)
• Adolescent problem gamblers report beginning
  gambling at earlier ages, approximately 10 years
  of age (Derevensky Gupta, 2001 Gupta
  Derevensky,1997a,1998a Wynne et al., 1996)
• Rapid movement from social gambler to problem
  gambler (Derevensky, 1999 Derevensky Gupta,
  1996, 1999 Gupta Derevensky, 1998a, 2000)

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• Adolescent problem gamblers have lower self-
  esteem compared with other adolescents (Gupta
  Derevensky, 1998b, 2000)
• Adolescent problem gamblers have higher rates of
  depression (Gupta Derevensky, 1998a,1998b,
  2001 Marget, Gupta Derevensky, 1999) and
  anxiety (Ste-Marie, Derevensky Gupta, 2006)
• Adolescent problem gamblers dissociate more
  frequently when gambling (Gupta Derevensky,
  1998b, 2001 Jacobs, Marsten Singer, 1985)
• Adolescents with gambling problems, ages 14-17,
  are at heightened risk for suicide ideation and
  suicide attempts (Gupta Derevensky, 1998a,
  Nower, Derevensky Gupta, 1999, 2000, 2004)

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• While adolescents with gambling problems report
  having a support group, old friends are often
  replaced by gambling associates (Derevensky
  Gupta, 2000 Gupta, 1999 Gupta Derevensky,
  2000)
• Adolescent problem gamblers remain at increased
  risk for the development of an addiction or
  multiple addictions (Gupta Derevensky,1998a,1998
  b, 2001 Kusyszyn, 1972 Lesieur Klein, 1987
  Winters Anderson, 2000)
• Adolescent problem gamblers score higher on
  excitability, extroversion, impulsive and anxiety
  lower on conformity and self-discipline
  measures (Gupta Derevensky,1997b,1998a, in
  press Gupta, Ste-Marie Derevensky, 2001
  Hardoon, Derevensky Gupta, 2003 Vitaro,
  Ferland, Jacques Ladouceur, 1998)

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• Problem and pathological gambling have been shown
  to have experiences more major life events and
  early childhood traumas (Derevensky Gupta,
  2002 Gupta Derevensky, 2001 Ladouceur
  Mireault, 1988 Lesieur Klein, 1987 Wynne et
  al., 1996)
• Gambling venues are easily accessible for
  underage youth (Felsher, Derevensky Gupta,
  2004, 2005 Griffiths, 1998)
• Problem and pathological gambling has been shown
  to result in increased delinquency and crime,
  disruption of familial relationships and
  decreased academic performance (Derevensky
  Gupta, 1999, Gupta Derevensky, 1998a, 2000
  Hardoon, Derevensky Gupta, 2003 Ladouceur
  Mireault, 1988 Lesieur Klein, 1987 Wynne et
  al., 1996)

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• Adolescent problem and pathological gamblers have
  been shown to score lower on a measure of
  resiliency in light of risk factors (Lussier,
  Derevensky Gupta, 2004, 2006)
• Adolescents with gambling problems are more
  likely to have parents with either a gambling
  problem or some other form of mental health or
  substance abuse (Abbott et al., 2004Derevensky,
  in press Potenza et al., 2004)

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• Adolescent problem and pathological gamblers
  display significant cognitive distortions
  compared to peers when gambling (Baboushkin,
  Hardoon, Derevensky Gupta, 2001 Felsher,
  Derevensky Gupta, 2004 Ladouceur Walker,
  1996 Toneatto, 1999)
• Most adolescents view gambling as a socially
  acceptable and enjoyable form of entertainment,
  significantly less harmful than alcohol, drugs or
  cigarettes (Dickson, Derevensky Gupta, 2002)

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Similarities between youth and adult problem
gamblers

• Pervasiveness of the problem
• Similar reasons for reporting gambling
• Lying, stealing, cheating
• Illusion of control (Irrational cognitions and
  thinking)
• Preoccupation with thoughts of gambling
• High suicide ideation and attempts
• Chasing behavior
• Gambling as a means of escape/dissociation
• Depression/Anxiety
• Missing of work and/or school
• Loss of friends and changes in social support

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Consequences of problem gambling
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Is Youth Problem Gambling A Primary Disorder?
Alcohol Dependence
ADHD
Conduct Disorder
Problem Gambling
Other Disorder
Depression
Drug Dependence
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Prevention issues
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Prevention Issues

• Abstinence
• Harm reduction/harm minimization

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• Identifying personal risk and attitudes toward
  gambling
• Distinguishing responsible gambling behaviors
• Illusion of control personal risk
  characteristics risk for the development of a
  gambling problem
• Superstitious behaviors
• Knowing oneself and establishing limits
• Information on self-screening and how to get help

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Social policy issues.
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Mobile wagering
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Internet Gambling

• High acceptance of Internet gambling
• Misleading and provocative advertisements
• Large number of sports sites
• Capitalize on use of celebrities
• Advertised on television, magazines

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Reported Reasons Why Youth Gamble on the Internet
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Internet Gambling With Moneyby Gambling Group
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Internet Gambling

• Offers free games and trial (practice) sites
• Incorporates video-game technology
• Reward and loyalty programs
• Initial deposit bonuses
• Bettors Insurance
• Graphics add to the excitement of the game
• Perceived elements of skill
• Convenience and ease of access

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Internet Gambling

• Provides a form of entertainment
• Enhances levels of excitement and arousal
• Provides an opportunity to win money
• Younger generation of teens very attracted to
  Internet gambling sights
• Practice sights are exceedingly popular amongst
  problem gamblers-age of onset is before 13
• Approximately 10 of adolescents are gambling on
  the net
• Over 10 of problem gamblers spent over 500 on
  Internet gambling

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Internet Gambling

• Allows individuals to lie about their age
• Allows underage youth to gamble on prohibited
  activities
• Reinforcement schedules are quick
• Early exposure to practice sites may be priming
  youth for later gambling behavior
• Youth are accessing adult gambling sites
• The Internet provides an accessible venue for an
  otherwise illegal activity
• Rise in use as gambling severity increases

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Responsible advertising???
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Sports.
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Sex?
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Television
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Celebrity endorsements.
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Social Policy Issues

• Lack of parental awareness of youth gambling
  problems
• Proliferation of gambling venues, ease of
  accessibility and types of games particularly
  attractive to youth
• Legislation
• raising legal age to 21
• compliance of laws
• enforcement

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• Societal awareness that a potential problem
  exists
• Training of therapists to work with youth
• Lack of empirically sound research concerning
  social and mental health costs
• Treatment Programs
• Development of specific, empirically validated,
  youth treatment programs
• Prevention Programs
• Development and distribution of effective
  educational prevention programs

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• Responsible Advertising
• Funding of research
• Basic
• Applied
• Social Responsibility Awareness
• Industry
• Mental Health professionals
• Government
• Parents

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Trends

• Gambling venues youth gambling

• Gambling as a primary form of entertainment
• Gambling as the new rite of passage into
  adulthood
• Gambling as a family activity
• An increase in technologically based gambling
• General perception that gambling is a relatively
  harmless activity