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The stakes get higher: Increased gambling opportunities may lure the vulnerable into a destructive habit
Add this up: two houses, two cars, a law practice, a girlfriend, physical health, self-respect and a sense of purpose — tally all that and you still don't have a complete inventory of what gambling cost "Richard L." of Federal Way.
"Sometimes I would be gambling and realize I didn't even want to be there, but I didn't know how to leave," said the 47-year-old software designer, now in recovery from his gambling habit.
Unfortunately, "Richard L." — the way he identifies himself at Gamblers Anonymous sessions — is not an isolated case.
Studies indicate up to 193,000 Washington adults have had a gambling problem at some point in their lives, while another 78,000 have been "pathological gamblers" — marked by a loss of control over gambling and a pattern of financial losses, deception and disruptions at work and home.
And with Gov. Gary Locke reluctantly proposing that budget-crunched Washington boost revenue by joining "The Big Game," a multistate lottery with megajackpots, those who study gambling problems are calling for more funding to help treat those affected.
"Of course, it's a concern," said Charles Maurer, a Seattle psychologist and president of the National Council on Problem Gambling. "Any time you make gambling more accessible and attractive, you're going to increase the numbers of people affected."
Maurer, also founding president of the Washington State Council on Problem Gambling, is neutral on the question of whether gambling should expand — the council draws funding from gambling revenues from the state, tribes and gaming industry.
Instead of opposing gambling, the councils advocate that any gambling expansion include increased funding to help the 1 in 20 gamblers who develops a problem.
Underrated health problem
Gambling is connected to an array of health issues, Maurer said, noting that gamblers have a higher-than-average incidence of cardiovascular problems, disrupted sleep, poor nutrition and lack of exercise.
In addition, about 40 percent of those hooked on gambling are likely hooked on alcohol, as the two behaviors tend to reinforce one another.
"It's probably one of the most underrated problems in terms of public health," said Clayton Neighbors with the University of Washington's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. "It's been linked to eating disorders, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, suicide and criminal activity," added Neighbors, an acting research assistant professor.
Since 1980, the American Psychiatric Association has recognized pathological gambling as a diagnosable mental disorder.
Gary Hanson, executive director of the Washington State Council on Problem Gambling, said recent research has shown that a gambler, at the time his bet is decided, may receive a chemical brain stimulation similar to the one a drug addict gets from a hit of cocaine.
Concern about gamblers has increased with the availability and variety of opportunities to place a bet. Gambling, which long ago might have meant a trip to Nevada or the racetrack, arrived in our neighborhoods in 1982 with the creation of the Washington State Lottery. These days, it's as close as our home computers, with Web sites enticing us to play real money at virtual casinos — despite the fact the activity is illegal in Washington and most other states.
Who's vulnerable?
Who's most at risk? Men, young adults and people of color had a greater-than-average incidence of problem gambling in a 1998 study conducted for the state problem-gambling council and the Washington State Lottery.
"Adolescence is a period of trying on a lot of different behaviors and a lot of people, particularly males, are going to try on risky behaviors," said Maurer. For many people, activities such as gambling and drinking drop sharply by the late 20s.
More difficult to address is a higher level of gambling among people of color, since the reasons appear to vary among racial groups. "In some Asian cultures, it ties in with a spiritual-belief system," Maurer said.
Among other findings, the study showed problem gambling was highest among people who had never married and tended to decrease with higher levels of education.
While most people who gamble keep the activity under control, common characteristics among those vulnerable to problems include impulsiveness, a fragile sense of self and a need for immediate gratification and excitement.
From euphoria to desperation
In a typical pattern, the gambler enters a "winning phase" in which success triggers a euphoria, which reinforces the habit, and the person's lifestyle begins to center on gambling. Then comes a "losing phase" in which losses mount, the gambler tries to recoup with larger wagers and family and friends provide financial and emotional bail- outs. Finally comes a "desperation phase" in which losses accelerate, attempts to control the habit are futile, depression increases and suicide may be considered.
Reaching for help
The most common source of help for gamblers is Gamblers Anonymous, formed in 1957 and modeled after the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. It combines a regimen of attending regular meetings with a multistep program of admitting the problem, atoning for previous wrongs and seeking the assistance of a higher power through prayer or meditation.
A parallel organization, Gam-Anon, helps the gambler's close friends and relatives, recognizing that like alcoholism, pathological gambling affects not just individuals, but entire families.
"Richard L." says no program will work without a serious commitment on the gambler's part. He began going to Gamblers Anonymous meetings in 1985 to placate his live-in girlfriend, but "I had absolutely no desire to be there and didn't hear a word of what was said." His relationship and his fraudulent attempt to stop gambling quickly collapsed.
By 1991, "Richard L." turned to "GA" again and, despite several lapses, he has continued to return to the program. He remarried in 1992, and his wife helps him conduct workshops at Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon gatherings.
Still, he takes nothing for granted. He can cite the exact date of his last bet — Dec. 4, 1996 — but doesn't feel he can promise it's the last bet he'll ever make. "Thinking about living my whole life without gambling is too much to handle," he said. "What I can say is I expect not to gamble today."
