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That represents almost 10 million Americans who are battling
a gambling addiction. Among these are about 750,000 young
people aged fourteen to twenty-one. Research shows that 3
percent to 5 percent of those who gamble eventually become
addicted to it. There is also a connection between gambling ad-
diction and alcohol abuse. People with disorders related to al-
cohol use are twenty-three times more likely to develop a gam-
bling problem. Perhaps not surprisingly, as a person’s gambling
addiction becomes more severe, the person is at an increased
likelihood of committing a crime to support or get money for his
or her habit.
Those aged twenty to thirty, when the compulsive behavior
of youth is combined with more personal freedom, show the
greatest risk of becoming addicted to gambling. Young people
are more likely to gamble for recreation with friends. They also
spend more time gambling online. However, problem gambling
is also increasing among older Americans. Loneliness, isolation,
boredom, and cognitive problems can all contribute to gambling
addiction among seniors.
A recent study of forty-three thousand Americans conducted
by the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcoholism and Related
Conditions found gender differences related to gambling addic-
tion. Men are about three times more likely than women to de-
velop a gambling addiction at some point in their lives. They also
tend to start gambling at a younger age. Women are more apt to
become addicted to gambling in their forties or later. Research
shows that women can develop a gambling addiction quite rap-
idly, often within a year of their first wagers. By contrast, men
take an average of four years to become hooked on gambling.
Men and women also differ in the forms of gambling they prefer.
Men tend to like games that offer the illusion of skill and control.
These include table casino games such as blackjack, dice, and
roulette. Women are drawn to slot machines, bingo, and a num-
bers game called keno. With disposable income for women on
the rise and females in control of nearly 80 percent of household
