Gambling is a harmless recreational activity for most people, but for some it becomes a serious problem. Compulsive gambling is a progressive disorder and, more often than not, its harm is hidden.
MOST COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS...
Use gambling as a coping strategy to mask underlying emotional pain.
Hide their gambling from family, friends, and col
Gambling is a harmless recreational activity for most people, but for some it becomes a serious problem. Compulsive gambling is a progressive disorder and, more often than not, its harm is hidden.
MOST COMPULSIVE GAMBLERS...
Use gambling as a coping strategy to mask underlying emotional pain.
Hide their gambling from family, friends, and colleagues.
Become emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically distressed.
MYTH: Compulsive gamblers can simply stop if they really want to.
FACT: Without help, most cannot stay stopped. Compulsive gambling is a psychological disorder, as difficult to arrest as addiction to alcohol or drugs.
MYTH: Compulsive gamblers are lazy, greedy, low-life degenerates.
FACT: Problem gamblers have healthy and unhealthy personality traits...
just like the rest of us.
2 to 3% of the US population is at risk for developing a gambling disorder.
In Arizona, between 150,000 and 220,000 individuals may be at risk.
Every compulsive gambler negatively affects at least 8 to 10 other people.
Seniors and teens are the two fastest growing groups of problem gamblers.
Gambling (especially among 8th graders) significantly impacts delinquent behavior.
Arizona Council on Compulsive Gambling, Inc
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