Gambling Types and Risk Factors
November 6, 2022
Gambling has become a way of life for humans. Ever since people began wagering on just about anything, they have created different forms of gambling to suit different tastes and types of players. Here are some popular types of gambling. These include poker, blackjack, bingo, and lottery betting. In addition, you can even find some online gambling sites that offer free games and real cash prizes.
Common forms of gambling among adolescents
Gambling is a common activity among adolescents, and several studies have been conducted to determine the risk factors for problem gambling. Recent legalization of gambling and the rise of new forms of gambling have sparked interest in this topic. The present paper reviews the state-of-the-art research in this area, focusing on studies in Europe. An extensive search of academic databases yielded 44 studies that met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Findings from these studies were consistent across assessment tools and cut-offs.
The most common forms of gambling among adolescents include playing cards and challenges. The World Gambling Survey reported that more than half of adolescents (58%) engage in some form of gambling on a regular basis. Other common forms of gambling include wagering on sporting events, playing casino slot machines, betting on horse races, and playing bingo games.
Problem gambling rates among college-aged men
Recent studies have shown that younger segments of the population are more likely to develop problem gambling habits, with rates peaking at 18-24 years of age. The Nowak study, which included studies from the United States, Canada, Argentina, Australia, China, Japan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Scotland, and the United Kingdom, examined the prevalence of problem gambling.
Problem gambling rates among college-aged men are higher than those in the general population. Men engage in gambling in higher rates than women do, and their prevalence of problem gambling is more than double that of women. Men are also more likely to engage in sports betting, live poker, and casino table games, with men participating in the most problem gambling categories.
High-risk problem gamblers likely meet the criteria for disorder, and they are the most likely to report substance abuse or serious mental health issues within the past month. In addition, these men have higher rates of suicide ideation and attempts. Further, suicidality rates increase with the severity of the gambling problem. One study found that 0.2% of respondents had attempted suicide, while only 0.2% of non-problem gamblers attempted suicide.