"The DSM-5 has recognized Gambling Disorder (GD) as a Substance-Related and Addictive Disorder because of the increasing evidence supporting the presence of similarities between pathological gambling and substance addiction (1, 2). GD is conceptualized as a persistent and recurrent problem gambling behavior characterized by increased tolerance and inability to stop such a behavior, which causes significant impairment and distress.
According to epidemiological data, the prevalence of GD ranges between 1.2 and 7.1% in the general population, and it seems to be higher among young people, ranging between 6 and 9%. A more recent systematic review reported that 0.1–5.8% of individuals meet diagnostic criteria for problem gambling across five continents during the year before the survey, whereas 0.7–6.5% meet criteria for problem gambling during their lifetime. A recent study performed in Italy showed low-risk gambling behavior in less than 15%, a moderate-risk in 4% and problem gambling in 1.6%. The use of internet seems to play a role in the rise of problem gambling, as recent evidence reported that replacing 10% of offline with online gambling increases the likelihood of being a problem gambler by 8.8–12.6%, with an increase of 27.24 million euros per year of additional expenditures.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a dramatic impact on everyday life globally. Several studies performed in different countries around the world have reported psychological and mental health problems due to the changes caused by the COVID-19, including stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. According to recent data, the lockdown and social distancing may have exerted an impact even on gambling behavior, not only by increasing gambling behavior in those affected by this disorder but even contributing to the occurrence of new cases. Italy was one of the first European countries to be affected by the COVID-19 crisis, and government regulations imposed many restrictions. The latter have concerned not only individuals, who have been told to remain in their houses, but even many businesses with dramatic consequences on many persons who have not been able to work because they were unable to do their job from home (i.e., smart working). Indeed, among the limitations imposed by Italian government, it should also be mentioned the closing of retail shops different from food shops and those providing essential services (such as health ones), the suspension of the sports events and the closure of gambling and bingo halls as well as betting shops."
The number one gambling addiction fact that you should know is that gambling is NOT just a financial problem. Some problem gamblers do not have financial issues even though they may lose money gambling. Gambling is an emotional issue where a person feels the need to gamble to alleviate stress or because they feel a certain type of euphoria when they gamble. Gambling is an obsession that can take over your life if you let it go too far, this can lead to the loss of relationships, jobs, and, yes, finances, but the issue behind compulsive gambling is not financial, it is emotional. As a gambler, how did you stay in control of your gambling habits?
