Over the last few decades, legalized gambling has become widespread throughout our country and across the globe. Governments recognize the financial benefits gambling provides to the economy and its tax contribution, and the industry has expanded and profited. The public now has a multitude of opportunities to wager, from visiting casino properties to online betting, which can take place from just about anywhere there is an internet or Wi-Fi connection.
Sports betting multiplied these opportunities, since dozens of bets can be made during one game. Now there are endless ways to wager, which can be an exciting form of entertainment for some but can result in catastrophic life circumstances for those who develop a gambling disorder.
As gambling has boomed in recent years, the industry and stakeholders have promoted responsible gambling (RG), a relatively simple concept to set limits on gambling time and the amount of money a player is willing to lose. These are good parameters for those who want to place bets and want to avoid unmanageable financial loss, although experts estimate that only 3-4 percent of gamblers utilize RG tools and perform related practices. While RG is a preventative measure, it does not adequately equip a person with the information needed to avoid gambling addiction.
RG’s prevention-centric messaging does not address gambling disorder which is known as a “hidden addiction,” since there are no apparent physical signs like those occurring with drugs or alcohol. Those suffering from a gambling problem do not realize they have a problem until they hit rock bottom due to denial, and their loved ones are often left in the dark until a financial catastrophe has struck. This issue is exacerbated by the absence of information regarding the life-altering circumstances resulting from gambling addiction.
Responsible Gambling vs. Problem Gambling
The public tends to conflate RG and problem gambling, but they are in fact quite distinct.
Problem gambling (PG) messaging differs from RG in that PG raises awareness about related risks and the potentially addictive nature of gambling, which has taken a back seat due to a strong RG focus. Relying entirely on RG messaging leaves millions of people vulnerable to this horrible disease, since they are unaware of related problem gambling signs and the devastation this addiction can cause. Those who wish to gamble are encouraged to be responsible in their play, but they desperately need to be adequately informed, so they understand the potential fallout of problem gambling. Such efforts are almost non-existent other than the efforts by organizations like the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ).
The CCGNJ is neutral on legalized gambling: we are not for nor against it. But we are dedicated to helping those avoid a gambling problem and help those who have developed this addiction. Every year the CCGNJ delivers thousands of presentations about gambling and related harms, and advertises to the extent our budget provides, while also responding to calls to our 800GAMBLER helpline, where individuals are provided with a compassionate ear and resources to aid in their recovery. While we reach millions every year, we are only scratching the surface, due to limited funds, the mounting opportunities to place wagers and the inability to compete with incessant advertising, which glamorizes gambling and entices people with offers to place “free” bets, with a “you can’t lose message.”
It is extremely challenging for organizations like the CCGNJ to fully address the growing number of problem gamblers on our own, which affects 1 percent of the U.S. population and approximately 6 percent of New Jersey residents.
While these percentages may not appear to be too concerning, if you consider how many individuals are affected, 3,349,149 in the U.S. and 557,450 individuals in New Jersey, the significance of this problem becomes much more striking. And this calculation doesn’t consider the effect on loved ones: The California Council on Problem Gambling found that for every problem gambler, 7 family members or loved ones are negatively impacted. When you apply this calculation approximately 140,664,255 U.S. residents are impacted by gambling disorder, with 3,902,153 living in New Jersey.
Why Does Problem Gambling Remain in the Dark?
Despite these worsening numbers, the public largely remains in the dark about problem gambling. This is due to muted public education about gambling disorder, perhaps stemming from a concern that increased awareness will affect the economic health of the industry and related tax revenue coupled with an individual’s desire for financial gain. It is also attributed to gambling addiction being a merciless affliction that few are willing to disclose.
Any form of addiction is a result of trauma, the desire to escape from life’s challenges and pressures, or in response to loss. Those who suffer from a gambling disorder lose careers, homes, college and retirement funds, and relationships, with nearly 20 percent contemplating suicide – the highest rate of suicide ideation amongst all addictions. Given these factors, it is understandable why the industry and government avoid the topic of problem gambling and why the public avoids the reality of the degree of risk they are taking.
Measures to Shine the Light on Problem Gambling
Beyond the efforts of organizations like the CCGNJ, it is the government’s and industry’s responsibility to adequately warn and inform the public as to the risks and dangers resulting from gambling addiction aside from touting RG practices. This can be achieved by including warning labels, similar to the surgeon general’s warning on tobacco products, on brick-and-mortar casinos and online gambling sites, and by developing and airing public service announcements about the dark side of gambling. Incorporating advertising parameters regarding the content and frequency of advertisements would also be helpful.
None of this will be accomplished, however, until there is a willingness to prioritize the public good by presenting gambling in a light that doesn’t airbrush its potential devastating life impact upon millions of individuals every day.
