Psychological Profiles of Young Gamblers Prof. Freedom Leung Department of Psychology Chinese University of Hong Kong

Gambling Behaviors Social gambling Problem gambling Pathological gambling

Pathological Gambling (with 5 or more of the following symptoms) Preoccupied with gambling Gamble as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving negative feelings Gamble with increase amounts of money to achieve the desired excitement Urge to chase one’s losses to undo a series of losses Lies to others to conceal gambling Get into serious financial difficulties because of gambling Committed illegal acts to finance gambling Gambling affects relationships, job, or school performance Restless or irritable when trying to stop Repeated unsuccessful efforts to stop

Psychological needs behind gambling  a need to impress  a need to escape  a need for excitement

the naïve gamblers With naïve mentality With low self-esteem With a strong need to impress (overly concerned with others’ approval) Looking for easy solution Easily influenced by the environment

the naïve gamblers From family with inadequate parenting Often with a family history of pathological gambling Personal vulnerability is linked to a sense of of inadequacy and inferiority Gambling is viewed as a means to earn self-respect More males than females in this group

the emotionally vulnerable gamblers Experience chronic negative emotions With poor coping and problem-solving skills Motivated to gamble by a desire to modulate negative moods Gambling is viewed as a means of emotional escape through the effect of distraction Tend to choose low-skill gambling devices such as slot machine, video- draw poker and fruit machines

the emotionally vulnerable gamblers With a family history of emotional disorders and negative upbringing experiences With co-morbid psychopathology such as anxiety or mood disorders More females than males in this group With later onset Treatment of this group should address both gambling behavior and the underlying psychopathology

the impulsive gamblers Sensation-seekers With poor tolerance for boredom and an inability to delay gratification Chronically under-stimulated and have a strong need to search for excitement and to impress Tend to seek big payoffs through high stake games, play competitive, skill-oriented forms of gambling such as table games and sports betting

the impulsive gamblers With a family history of problem gambling Early onset of problem More severe levels of gambling Unlikely to learn from punishment or failure to modify behavior With co-morbid psychopathology such as substance abuses, antisocial and narcissistic personality traits, and widespread dysfunction in non-gambling related areas More males than females in this group