Individual

Overview

Individual costs associated with harmful gambling may include comorbid health-related issues, employment-related issues, and homelessness. Health issues experienced by individuals who engage in harmful gambling include higher rates of substance abuse, mental health disorders, and suicide. Harmful gambling can also lead to comorbid physical health disorders and increased use of medical care. In terms of employment issues, gamblers in desperation may borrow or steal from employers, or miss time from work, to gamble. Homelessness can also result from gambling, due to an increase in debts and repayment failure.

Key Points

Studies have found that a lifetime diagnosis of disordered gambling is associated with other medical disorders and can result in increased use of medical care. Although homelessness has a high prevalence rate with gambling, the reason underlying this association is unclear. It could be that individuals with gambling problems are more likely to become homeless and then develop other problems. It could also suggest that individuals with comorbid conditions like mental illness and substance use disorders are more likely to gamble. Alternatively, gambling may just be a by-product of homelessness - of having time but few other resources for recreation.

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References

Nower, L., Blaszczynski, A., Choi, K. & Glynn, J. (2015). State of evidence: Adverse effects of disordered gambling on individuals and families.