Gambling is a form of entertainment where betting games or lotteries are played for money or other prizes. Problem gambling occurs when a person reaches a point in gambling where its consequences, whether those be social, financial, or psychological, negatively affect the person and the people around them. A substantial proportion of harm is suffered by those individuals who fall below the clinical threshold for gambling disorders (Wardle et al., 2024).
Gambling can be incorporated into various forms of games, including sports betting, lotteries, raffle tickets, bingo, virtual or in-person slot machines, and scratch tickets. Some of the most common gambling activities among youth and young adults include online and sports gambling, scratch tickets, and playing the lottery (Boak & Hamilton, 2024; Hollén et al., 2020).
“Gambling among college students can lead to issues such as low grades, suicide, missed classes, physical violence, binge drinking, and mental health problems. Problem gambling is characterized by uncontrollable, destructive, and compulsive gambling with significant deleterious personal, social, financial, psychological, vocational, and academic consequences among college students” (Kapukotuwa et al., 2023, p. 2).
Based on 2018 data, 65% of Canadians have engaged in some form of gambling in the past year (Rotermann & Gilmour, 2022). Of them, 1.6% reported moderate to severe risk of problems related to gambling. Some of their findings included:
While high quality data and evidence related to youth gambling is not consistently available, research demonstrates a few general trends.
- People younger than 25 have a higher rate of problem gambling compared to those who are older (CAMH, n.d.-b)
- The estimated lifetime prevalence of problem gambling among college students is approximately 5% (Kapukotuwa et al., 2023; Nowak, 2018)
- A large majority of people with gambling addictions are men, and most also suffer other mental health conditions (Erbas & Buchner, 2012)
- More access to legalized forms of gambling such as sports betting and e-gambling increases its prevalence. Proximity to casinos likewise increases gambling prevalence (Adams et al., 2007; Kapukotuwa et al., 2023)
- Student athlete status is found to be a predictor of problem gambling (Marcinkevics, 2020)
- Parental or family history of problem gambling increases risk (Nower et al., 2022)
- Online gambling can induce higher risk- taking behaviour and problem gambling (Mcbride & Derevensky, 2012)
- Students perceiving benefits from gambling is a predictor of problem gambling (Wickwire et al., 2007)
- Recent problem gambling is higher among students who use stimulants (Geisner et al., 2016)
- Higher risk among international students, specifically those who are male. (Thomas et al., 2012)
- Within post-secondary institutions, discussing gambling with students is a lower priority compared to discussing harms and best practices associated with alcohol and substance use. Only one third of Canadian universities had gambling-related policies according to a 2018 survey (Marchica et al., 2018)
Despite the potential harms, gambling is often enjoyed as a casual social activity and a person’s involvement can range greatly. The diagram below depicts the spectrum of gambling behaviour.
- NO GAMBLING: This person does not partake in gambling
- CASUAL SOCIAL GAMBLING: Most people fall under this category, where they occasionally partake in gambling for entertainment (i.e., casinos, lottery tickets, raffles)
- SERIOUS SOCIAL GAMBLING: People who fall under this category find gambling as their main form of entertainment and partake in it during a large portion of their free time
- HARMFUL INVOLVEMENT: People who experience consequences in many areas of life (e.g., financial, relational, professional) due to their gambling
- PROBLEM GAMBLING: People who are experiencing harms in all areas of their life due to gambling and are unable to control their desire to gamble regardless of the negative consequences
People can show many different signs of problem gambling (CAMH, 2022). In extreme situations, it can lead to bankruptcy, legal issues, job loss, truancy and dropping out, and suicide. Other signs that precede these outcomes typically include:
- Gambling increasingly larger amounts and spending more and more time gambling
- Stopping doing things they previously enjoyed
- Prioritizing gambling over other social life, family, school, work, and self-care
- Changing patterns of sleep, eating or sex
- Having conflicts with other people over money
- Using alcohol or other drugs more often
- Gambling regardless of negative consequences
- Decreased mood and irritable behaviour when trying to stop
- Constantly thinking about gambling
REFLECTION:
Does your post-secondary institution have specific policies pertaining to gambling and supporting students with gambling?
