Gambling Statistics Usa
Major seizures in California
- Even though gambling is considered a “fun” activity, it can soon turn into an uncontrollable addiction, much like alcohol or drug dependency. When gambling turns from enjoyment to addiction, it can ruin your life. According to the United States National Library of Medicine, those who have issues with impulse control can easily develop a gambling.
- Minimum Age to Gamble in United States of America Below you will find the minimum legal age to gamble in various locations around the U.S., Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. In the 50 American states, some times you'll see a variance, this usually is due to Indian casinos having different age requirements in their casinos than state regulated.
- The online gambling statistics for the US show that at least 80% of them gambled in the past year. The global online gambling revenue reached $66.67 billion in 2020. (The European Business Review) If there’s any industry that benefited the most from the infamous Covid-19 pandemic, it’s online gambling.
- Casinos typically have bars, and drinking is a common occurrence while gambling. Statistics on Gambling Addiction Treatment and Outlook. While gambling addiction is treatable, statistics indicate that few people with this disorder seek professional help.
Us Gambling Industry
It has been a busy week when it comes to gambling-related crime across the United States. In addition to numerous raids of illegal gambling operations, there were other interesting cases in the news.
Ultimate USA Gambling Facts & Revenue Updated 2021 According to The American Gaming Association (AGA), the gambling industry in the US is worth $261 billion and supports 1.8 million jobs in 40 states ( 1 ); however, gambling has had a difficult (and illegal) history in the USA and it is just up until now that the path is being cleared.
In California, police raided an illegal gambling operation early on Thursday morning. The Daly City officers arrested four adults and seized coin-operated machines, numerous guns, large amounts of illegal drugs, and sizeable sums of cash. The bust took place at around 5am at a residence on Monterey Avenue. The Daly City Police tweeted out a picture of some of the seized items from the raid:
A combination of the Daly City crime suppression unit, tactical team, and detectives served the search warrant after the residence was identified as being the venue for an illegal gambling operation. Those arrested are facing a mix of charges relating to the illegal gambling machines, guns, and drugs.
Councilman facing illegal gambling charges
Also in California, Lodi City Councilman Shakir Khan had his arraignment on Tuesday on charges related to illegal gambling, unemployment claim fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering. Despite these charges, he does not plan to resign from his political position. His attorney spoke about how these allegations are old and stated that Khan was not a participant in the illegal gambling that took place in East Stockton.
None of these allegations involve the office he holds as City Council Member.”
Khan’s attorney said: “Mr. Khan denies these charges and looks forward to clearing his name. None of these allegations involve the office he holds as City Council Member. Mr. Khan has no intentions of resigning his office.”
The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office has alleged that Khan was operating illegal gambling from his business, American Smokers Club, and then laundered the profits. Khan’s attorney has said that his client sold this business before the illegal gambling operation started.
The illegal gambling and money laundering allegedly took place between February 2018 and September 2020. Khan also allegedly received money from the state unlawfully during the pandemic. The next court date for Khan at the San Joaquin County Superior Court is October 26.
Ohio gaming agents seize illegal gambling machines
Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) gaming agents, assisted by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, have seized slot machines at four businesses in Fayette County. Each of the four properties was identified as housing illegal gambling operations. These businesses were Unique Treasures, Jackpots, Miss Kay’s, and Shamrock’s. The agents seized the illegal gambling machines, as well as documents and cash from each of these establishments. There were no arrests made, but investigations are continuing.
blatant disregard of the law”
OCCC agents had gotten complaints that these businesses had been offering illegal gambling machines and were paying out cash prizes to winners. Speaking about these raids was OCCC executive director Matthew Schuler, who said: “The operators of these illegal casinos took advantage of their community to line their own pockets in blatant disregard of the law.”
He went on to speak about the OCCC’s ongoing commitment to making sure that gambling in Ohio is conducted with integrity and honesty. The OCCC is committed to tackling anyone who is in violation of the state’s gaming laws.
Arkansas fire captain facing charges after casino fight
Finally, a former fire captain in Arkansas has claimed that he was “involuntarily intoxicated” during a fight at the Oaklawn Casino in Hot Springs. The former Bentonville fire captain was arrested following the incident and is facing battery charges. The 44-year-old allegedly attacked the victim after telling him that he “did not belong in this country.”
However, Benjamin Snodgrass’ defense team is claiming that the defendant had been “dosed with a hallucinogen” during the time of the incident. They claim that as he was not of right mind during the fight, that he was not responsible. The entire altercation was caught on the casino’s security camera.
Snodgrass has admitted to drinking about ten alcoholic beverages before the attack and he does not directly recall the fight. However, prosecutors say that there is no evidence that Snodgrass had, in fact, been drugged. A brief from state prosecutors stated: “The Defendant’s loss of memory is important as well. It is possible that the Defendant took MDMA voluntarily and is unable to remember taking it. There is no evidence and no testimony that anyone in the bar had any motivation to drug him.”
The next hearing in this case is on October 1.
Even though gambling is considered a “fun” activity, it can soon turn into an uncontrollable addiction, much like alcohol or drug dependency.
When gambling turns from enjoyment to addiction, it can ruin your life.
According to the United States National Library of Medicine, those who have issues with impulse control can easily develop a gambling addiction without realizing it.
Gambling addictions are often more common in people who have struggled with another form of addiction, such as alcohol or drug abuse.
There are any number of gambling addiction statistics that show how common gambling addictions are, and how it can negatively impact your life.
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Gambling Addiction Statistics 2016
1. People with an alcohol abuse history are 23 times more likely to have a gambling addiction
In many cases, alcohol abuse and gambling addiction go hand in hand.
Studies have shown that people who struggle with alcohol addiction or have a history of alcohol abuse in their family history are 23 times more likely to become addicted to gambling.
Many people find that alcohol and gambling are connected; alcoholics who gamble use drinking as a form of support to celebrate their wins and drown out their losses when gambling, which is a common event in casinos where alcohol is free to those who keep gambling.
Those who are suffering from alcoholism and a gambling addiction find that therapy and medication can stem the impulse control that contributes to gambling addictions.
2. Percentage of American folks who have gambled each year: 80 percent!
When people try to escape their everyday lives, they most commonly find places that offer a chance to go out of the norm of their usual routine as well as a place that offers visual and mental stimulation.
In these cases, many people, as many as 80 percent, have admitted that they find casinos and online gambling sites as methods of satisfying that particular urge for entertainment.
Unfortunately, these events can become dangerous habits that can affect your daily life.
Monetary losses from gambling far outweigh the wins, which can lead to destructive behaviors that attempt to “make up” for what you have lost.
Gambling Statistics Us
3. Around 5 gamblers out of 100 has a gambling addiction
Even though almost all of the people who have admitted that they have gambled at least once in their lives never win, they will also admit to indulging the fantasy of what would happen if they did hit that big win.
That possibility is often the trigger that will turn entertainment into an addiction.
Out of every 100 people who gamble on a regular basis, at least five of them have a serious addiction to it.
Having a serious gambling addiction can lead to many losses in your life, such as bankruptcy, loss of employment, and the destruction of personal relationships.
4. 750,000 individuals aged 14-21 are addicted to gambling
While gambling addiction is often viewed as an “adult” problem, recent research suggests that it affects young people as well as adults.
Over three-quarters of a million of young people aged 14 to 21 have a gambling addiction.
According to the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, over 80 percent of teenagers aged 12 to 17 admit to gambling in the past year; more than 30 percent of them admit that they have gambled in the last week.
Based on the research, it is obvious that gambling is reaching youth as much as it is affecting adults.
Many adults, often parents of the gambling teens may see their gambling as harmless, not taking it as seriously as an alcohol or drug addiction.
Even though youth who gamble can start for innocent reasons, such as a friendly bet over a sports game, it can quickly escalate into an addiction.
5. Gambling addiction massively increases criminal inclinations
Many people with gambling addictions honestly do not think they are doing anything wrong, and they will report never having broken the law to gamble.
However, recent studies have connected gambling to an increase in criminal activity.
Researchers from Georgia State University report that those with a criminal record are far more likely to develop a gambling addiction than those who don’t have a criminal record.
There are many reasons for such a development.
Perhaps the person feels the same rush while gambling that they do when they commit a crime.
According to the study, about half of gamblers who have a criminal record will admit to committing crimes, such as theft or robbery, in order to find a way to keep gambling.
6. Gambling addiction increases chances of violent crimes
The debate between the connections between gambling addictions and the increase in violent crime is one that is hotly debated between pro-gambling and anti-gambling lobbies.
While crime is a global problem, the fact remains that many communities who have gambling casinos also saw a rise in violent crimes, particularly larceny and car theft.
According to the Washington Post, in most communities, these crimes saw a 10% increase in places that house at least one major casino.
A study conducted by researchers from Baylor University and the University of Illinois average that the increase in casinos directly correlates with the increase in crime rates.
These types of crimes don’t just affect those who lost their property or those who commit the crimes.
The same study also estimates that in counties where the crime rates increase because of the presence of casinos, additional public safety expenses can cost everyone in the population an average of $65.
7. A gambling addict may be suffering from mental disorders
Most people believe that gambling addictions are a form of risk-taking that develops into a major problem; while this may be true to an extent, many gambling addicts suffer from mental disorders or are suffering from pain in which gambling is a release.
According to BBC News, a woman turned to gambling as the grief over the loss of her son overwhelmed her.
While using gambling as a distraction isn’t always a bad thing, in those who are suffering from mental illness or a psychotic break, the distraction of gambling can turn into a full-blown addiction.
Many addictions arise from something that you feel that you are missing in your life or as a way to cope with devastating loss, but there is help available to those who need it.
There are healthier ways to grieve than through gambling.
8. Most gambling addicts are aged 20-30
While gambling addiction is a problem that can reach people of all ages, recent studies have shown that most gambling addicts are between the ages of 20 and 30.
There is no hard evidence as to why that is, but there are a few factors that can contribute to the young adult gambler.
First of all, there can be a newfound freedom associated with young adulthood.
It could also be connected to an increase in disposable income that many young adults have as they begin their careers.
The combination of freedom and new income in young adults can turn a pastime into an addiction.
9. In American colleges, over 6 percent of students gamble regularly
Gambling addictions are also common in college students.
According to the National Center for Responsible Gambling, over 6% of college students gamble on a regular basis.
When college students become regular gamblers, it can severely impact their lives, creating mental health issues, suffering grades, and insurmountable debt.
The research suggests that younger adults have trouble controlling their impulses which can attract them to an addiction to gambling.
This connection to impulse control can also contribute to college students indulging in other risky behaviors, such as alcohol and substance abuse.
Although 6% of college students report having a gambling addiction, the research suggests that most of them will grow out of the problems as their mental state matures, but some continue the addiction into adulthood.
10. Gambling addiction can be a side-effect of PTSD
It has been proven that gambling addicts often have another mental illness that can contribute to their impulse to gamble.
The connection between gambling and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been studied closely, and those who have PTSD often become compulsive gamblers.
There are other risky behaviors that they also indulge in, such as alcohol and drug abuse, self-mutilation, and eating disorders.
Gambling Statistics Usa 2018
One particular connection between gamblers who suffer from PTSD, especially servicemen and former servicemen, is that the rush from gambling not only provides the same feeling of danger that they used to endure every day, but it also provides a distraction from the mental symptoms of the condition.
11. 34 percent of gambling addiction treatment seekers have PTSD
Studies on the connection between gambling and PTSD prove that 34% of gamblers have PTSD.
Many men and women who have gambling addictions also have a range of other mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
When gamblers are diagnosed with both a gambling addiction and a disorder such as PTSD, it is very important to find a treatment facility that can treat both issues at the same time.
Finding the underlying cause of the psychological condition that is causing the addiction and the mental illness is the key to recovery.
12. Gambling addiction leads to mental illnesses
Over one-third of gamblers who are seeking treatment for their condition have also shown signs of having post-traumatic stress disorder.
While PTSD is not the only mental illness that many gamblers may have, there is a common behavioral connection between those gamblers who have mental illnesses.
Gambling can provide a focus or a distraction from those who have been suffering from depression, anxiety, or other emotional disorders.
In fact, gambling can itself lead to mental illness.
The behaviors expressed in gambling, the satisfaction of reaching a mental high, easily fades which can bring on other types of mental instability in trying to satisfy the urge to satisfy the next high.
13. Antisocial behavior and gambling addiction are related
Considering that most gambling occurs in public spaces such as casinos, you wouldn’t think that gambling would qualify as an antisocial behavior.
However, there is scientific evidence that antisocial behavior is linked to gambling addictions.
Having multiple addictions, such as alcohol abuse and a gambling addiction, at the same time is a sign of co-occurring disorder which is characterized as addictions that work together that can present as a form of antisocial behavior.
According to a study published in the United States National Library of Medicine, people who show examples of antisocial behavior, such as psychopathic inclinations and aggression, are more likely to become low-risk to pathological gamblers.
Luckily, these behaviors can be treated with therapy and medical intervention.
14. Gambling is just as addictive as substances
Gambling addiction has been connected to other addictions, such as substance abuse.
Those who suffer from a gambling disorder to such an extent that it completely overtakes their lives were called pathological gamblers, but as of 2013, the terminology has changed.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, pathological gambling is now known as gambling disorder which is treated with the same methods as substance abuse.
With research, the American Psychiatric Association has identified the same characteristics in both gambling addiction and substance abuse.
With proper treatment, both gambling addicts and substance abusers can find relief from their addictions.
15. Gambling addiction affects the mind just like substance addiction
Much like substance abuse, many gambling addicts feel the mental stimulation that gambling provides.
Substance abusers use drugs and alcohol as a way to numb pain or distract themselves from their mental disorders, and they spend their time trying to feel that way again.
It is the same with gambling addicts; the same mental satisfaction between the rush of winning a bet or beating the odds is very similar to substance abusers who chase their next high.
Gambling addiction is just as serious as other addictions to drugs and alcohol.
With proper diagnosis by a physician and treatment through a professional therapist can help you understand why you gamble and how you can prevent relapse.