Problem gambling is when someone experiences harm because of their gambling behaviour. People with problem gambling may lose substantial money to gambling. This could put them at risk of becoming homeless. This study looked at problem gambling in a sample of homeless clinic attenders in Australia.
A total of 289 (12%) homeless clinic attenders had problem gambling. Clinic attenders with problem gambling were more likely to be male, to have been married, and to have been employed for more than one year. They were also more likely to have their financial affairs managed by a Public Trustee than clinic attenders without problem gambling. Many clinic attenders with problem gambling also had mood disorders, psychotic illnesses, and substance use disorders. Therefore, problem gambling may be common in homeless populations and may co-occur with other disorders.
