Futures at stake: Youth, gambling, and society
Abstract
The widespread legalization of gambling across the U.S. has produced concerns for serious social, economic, and health problems. For the first time in this country, an entire generation of young people has reached adulthood within a context of approval and endorsement of gambling as a source of entertainment and recreation. Compared with their adult counterparts, these young people have evidenced a higher level of gambling-related problems. In "Futures at Stake, specialists in psychology, medicine, law, public health, economics, casino management, psychiatry, and criminal justice examine this problem from the perspective of their various disciplines, producing an intelligent, thought-provoking, and valuable survey of what is fast becoming a leading social-health problem across the nation. The chapters range from discussions of the pathology and treatment of gambling addictions, the legal ramifications of youth gambling, and the social and economic impacts of this problem to the efforts of the casino industry to limit access and appeal to juveniles, future prospects of youth gambling, and possible ways to control the problem. "Futures at Stake is important reading for health care professionals, educators, social workers, and casino-industry managers.
... In summary, researchers agree on the risk factors for problem gambling. Schools should address the danger of problem gambling [17,32,37]. School counselors should routinely survey questions related to gambling. ...
... According to Gupta and colleagues, teaching of active coping strategies to high-risk young individuals is a very effective approach and should be "a substantial part of school-based prevention initiatives [32]. Shaffer et al. found that all schools investigated had alcohol policies, but fewer than a quarter of them had gambling policies [37]. Educators and staff in schools should be trained to engage in the early identification for prevention efforts to succeed. ...
Objectives
We examine the dynamics of gambling among youth ages 16 and 24, how prevalence rates of at-risk gambling and problem gambling change as adolescents enter into young adulthood, and prevention and control strategies.
Methods
A simple epidemiological model is created using ordinary nonlinear differential equations, and a threshold condition that spreads gambling is identified through stability analysis. We estimate all model parameters using a longitudinal prevalence study by Winters, Stinchfield, and Botzet to run numerical simulations, and parameters to which the system is most sensitive are isolated using sensitivity analysis.
Results
Problem gambling is present in an endemic state among the youth with a steady prevalence rate of about 4-5%; the prevalence rate of problem gambling in young adults ages 18 to 24 is lower than that in adolescents ages 16 to 18; at-risk gambling among young adults has increased. The parameters to which the system is most sensitive correspond to primary prevention.
Conclusion
The prevention and control strategies should involve school education. A mathematical model that includes the effect of early exposure to gambling would be helpful if a longitudinal study can provide data in the future.
... Youth are at-risk for gambling problems (e.g., Shaffer, Hall, Vander Bilt, & George, 2003). Prevalence estimates of disordered gambling among youth reveal rates that are two to four times that of the general adult population (e.g., Shaffer et al., 1997; Shaffer et al., 2003; Shaffer & Korn, 2002 ). ...
... Youth are at-risk for gambling problems (e.g., Shaffer, Hall, Vander Bilt, & George, 2003). Prevalence estimates of disordered gambling among youth reveal rates that are two to four times that of the general adult population (e.g., Shaffer et al., 1997; Shaffer et al., 2003; Shaffer & Korn, 2002 ). Screening instruments exist that are specific to the adolescent population. ...
... Gambling among college students is highly prevalent, increasing, and highly consequential , calling for greater attention to gambling behaviors in this population. College students currently have greater access to gambling venues than in the past (McClellan and Winters 2006; Shaffer et al. 2003; Stuhldreher et al. 2007). Research examining gambling J. L. Tackett (&) Á L. M. Rodriguez Á D. V. Rinker Á C. Neighbors Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX 77204, USA e-mail: jenniferltackett@gmail.com prevalence suggests that approximately 62–85 % of the university population has gambled in the past year, with meta-analyses indicating that between 6 and 10 % would be classified as pathological gamblers (Barnes et al. 2010; Blinn-Pike et al. 2007; Neighbors et al. 2002; Nowak and Aloe 2013; Shaffer and Hall 2001; Weinstock et al. 2008). ...
Increases in access to gambling venues have been accompanied by increased gambling behavior among young adults. The present research examined associations among Five Factor Model personality traits, motives for gambling, and gambling behavior and problems using latent class analysis. College students (N = 220) completed online measures of personality and gambling behavior as part of a larger intervention trial. Agreeableness and conscientiousness were negatively associated with indicators of gambling behavior. Low agreeableness and high neuroticism were associated with gambling-specific motives, particularly for less frequently endorsed motives. Personality-based latent class analyses of emerging adult gamblers revealed support for three distinct groups reflecting a resilient personality group, a normative personality group, and a vulnerable personality group, which were further differentiated by gambling behaviors and gambling-specific motives. Associations between personality traits and gambling-specific motives highlight potential heterogeneity among college students who gamble. Together, findings suggest that the correlational and latent class-based analyses, as well as the personality and motivation analyses, present complementary information with respect to the attributes of college student gamblers. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
... This work was further advanced by the 1995 North American Think Tank, convened at Harvard Medical School, which sought to address the social, economic and health problems associated with adolescent gambling problems. Experts in education, finance, government, the gambling industry, health care, and the judiciary came together to address the growing issues associated with adolescent problem gambling (see Shaffer et al. 2003). ...
... Over the past several years, gambling has become a national public health issue (Korn et al. 2003) and college students have increasingly more access to gambling venues (McClellan and Winters 2006; Shaffer et al. 2003). College students rate gambling as more readily available than alcohol or marijuana and less risky than alcohol or cigarettes (Wickwire et al. 2007). ...
This research was designed to evaluate social influences and perceived social norms on gambling behavior among undergraduate students. Furthermore, this research was designed to replicate and extend previous research demonstrating that young adults overestimate the prevalence of gambling among peers, and that the magnitude of overestimation is positively associated with own use (Larimer and Neighbors, Psychol Addict Behav 17:235-243, 2003). We expected that; (1) gambling college students would identify more strongly with other gambling students compared to other students in general; (2) identification with other gambling students would predict gambling behaviors over and above perceived prevalence of gambling; and (3) identification with other gambling students would moderate the association between perceived social norms and gambling behavior. Participants included 1,486 undergraduate students who completed measures assessing gambling quantity and frequency, gambling-related perceived descriptive norms, and identification with groups. Results revealed that perceived norms for gambling were associated with gambling and revealed that students identified more strongly with other students than either gamblers or student gamblers. However, gambling behavior was more strongly associated with identification with gambling students than students in general. There was consistent support for the perspective that social identity moderates the association between perceived norms for gambling and gambling behavior. This research builds on previous examinations of social influences related to gambling and suggests that it may be important to consider the overall prevalence of a given behavior before considering norms-based intervention approaches. Interventions utilizing social norms for gambling may be advised to consider references other than just the typical student.
... Problem gambling is strongly linked to a range of indicators of social distress. In North America, where nearly a third of younger people gamble weekly, their involvement with gambling outstrips their participation in smoking, drinking, and taking other drugs (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998;Shaffer, Hall, Vander Bilt, & George, 2003). Ten to fifteen Example 2: Reasons to accept funding?? ...
This paper outlines the ethical and organisational risks for community and other public good organisations of accepting funding from gambling industry sources. Aspects of this moral jeopardy include the ethics of benefiting from the suffering of others as well as impacts on an organisation's reputation, governance, and internal relationships. After 50 years of unethical practice by tobacco manufacturers, community agencies involved with tobacco control are now actively challenging organisations that continue to pursue these links. This readiness to question has not yet been extended to gambling, but with efforts at improving ethical awareness, people in key agencies can be assisted in challenging these relationships. The different arrangements for dispersing charitable funds from gambling are examined and we conclude that none of them are free from moral jeopardy. The paper finishes with recommendations on ways organisations might participate in promoting low moral jeopardy environments.
... Today's college students are the first generation of youths to grow up in a culture of widespread legalized gambling and its promotion (Shaffer, Hall, Vander Bilt, and George, 2003). Yet few colleges have student policies or services regarding gambling (Shaffer and others, 2005). ...
This chapter examines problem and pathological gambling among college students and reports on prevalence rate, risk and protective factors, prevention and intervention, and recommendations for college student personnel and other university administrators.
Gambling researchers have often reported that research in the field of gambling remains in its infancy compared with other
addictive behaviors. Twelveyears ago Dr. Mark Griffiths’ seminal research on understanding adolescent gambling and problem
gambling behaviors was published. Today, adolescent gambling research is no longer in its infancy. Research in the field has
made great strides and has evolved as a result of Dr. Griffiths’ work. His qualitative investigations and insight into understanding
the situational, environmental and social contexts associated with adolescent problem gambling has inspired continued efforts
to better understand this phenomenon. Dr. Griffiths’ insights and predictions of the impact of technological advances associated
with changing structural characteristics in electronic gaming machines and the widespread impact of Internet and mobile gaming
has spurred new research. For most adolescents gambling remains a form of entertainment without serious negative consequences.
Yet, adolescent pathological gamblers, like their adult counterpart and independent of the negative consequences resulting
from their excessive gambling, continue to engage in a wide variety of gambling activities. Internet gambling amongst adolescents
clearly represents new challenges and problems. Some recent research concerning the risks associated with adolescent Internet
gambling is provided.
This brief report summarizes a survey of high school and college representatives and their awareness toward gambling-related problems. The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling developed a survey instrument to review the policies and training programs of 20 high schools and 10 colleges that were located within the catchment areas of Massachusetts Department of Public Health state-sponsored gambling treatment programs. The results revealed that there is an important discrepancy between the prevalence of gambling-related problems among young people and the awareness of these problems among educators. High school and colleges evidence a paucity of existing gambling-related regulations or policies. There is little opportunity for students and educators to learn within the school setting about gambling and its potential hazards. Without sufficient in-service education and training for faculty and staff, there is little likelihood that this group of educators can engage in the early identification or prevention efforts that are so vital to advancing the health and welfare of young people.
Adolescent gambling is a major social problem in North America. Over the years this problem has given rise to a number of
theoretical explanations. This paper argues that the existing explanations of youth gambling underestimate the influence of
broader structural forces conducive to youth gambling problem and, instead, provide micro analyses that often blames individuals
for their gambling problems. As such, these theories produce incomplete pictures of a persistent, cohesive and growing problem.
Canadian youth’s gambling problem is said to be better understood within the nexus of: (1) the Canadian state’s pro-gambling
policies due to the need for revenues, (2) the discrepancy between widely shared Canadian cultural values-wealth, power, and
success-and legitimate means of achieving them, and (3) the capitalist processes of profit making and commodification.
A substantial proportion of adolescents and young adults gamble and rates of problem gambling amongst youth are significantly higher than found in adult populations. Despite this, few youth seek treatment suggesting that traditional services are failing to help this vulnerable population. Youth are progressively active online and use the Internet for social networking, recreation, and increasingly, to seek help for health and mental health issues where they would not be comfortable seeking traditional forms of professional help. In recognition of this, Internet-based therapy and guided interventions have been launched specifically for adolescents and young adults in an attempt to reduce high-risk behaviors and increase program utilization. Research has demonstrated that online therapeutic support is perceived to be acceptable and useful by youth. Furthermore, online interventions have demonstrated success in reducing smoking and heavy drinking amongst this typically hard to reach population. Given the success of similar programs, online problem gambling services are predicted to be effective in increasing youth awareness of their potentially problematic gambling behavior and assist adolescents and young adults in retaining control and minimizing and reducing gambling-related problems.
Information markets are markets for contracts that yield payments based on the outcome of an uncertain future event, such as a presidential election. They have the potential to improve decision making and policies throughout the economy. At the same time, there are regulatory hurdles to establish such markets, largely arising from state prohibitions on Internet gambling. This paper reviews the current regulatory structure for information markets in the United States and offers recommendations for reform. We argue that the authority for regulating many information markets should be shifted from the states to the federal government. In addition, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission should administer an “economic purpose test”. That test would only allow information market contracts that are likely to provide significant financial hedging opportunities or valuable information for improving economic decisions. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006
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