ABSTRACT
Gambling, or behavior involving risk of some valued commodity on the outcome of a game or event with a chance outcome (Whelan et al. 2007), is a ubiquitous leisure activity. Slot machines, roulette, craps, other casino gambling, animal racing, online gambling, and wagering on the outcomes of skill games such as billiards or betting on sports with friends all included, more adults gamble in a given year than those who do not (Gerstein et al. 1999). Despite the frequency of gambling behavior and the financial impact of the industry, only a small percentage of the population develops gambling problems. Formerly termed pathological gambling (APA 2000), gambling disorder is characterized by persistent, recurrent, and distressful problematic gambling behavior (APA 2013). Prevalence estimates of pathological gambling approximate 0.5–1%, and up to about 5% of adults may experience at least some problems with gambling (Petry et al. 2005; Wardle et al. 2007). Although the prevalence of pathological gambling is relatively low, the impact on the individual may be severe, particularly with respect to finances (Boardman and Perry 2007; Grant et al. 2010) and relationships in and beyond the family (Jacobs 1989).
