Gambling Among Young People, 837 kB

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Definitions
what is meant by gambling games?
In this review, the term “games” will only be used in the sense of gambling games, i.e. a game where
you bet money and where you can win money. All other types of games are excluded, for example role
play, computer games and TV games. Amusement arcade games like flipper are also not included, even
if you pay to play them because the aim is not to win money. The reason for this narrow use of the term
“game” is because gambling is treated as a separate phenomenon, separate from other types of games,
in research and the clinical context. In literature written in English the terms gaming and gambling are
used for “playing a game” (a direct translation of the Swedish term for gambling). Gambling only has
to do with playing a game for money and can be associated with taking risks and with luck, while
gaming might also apply to other types of games and is more associated with playing for fun. Those
who manufacture, sell and organise gambling games tend to use the term gaming while those who
work with pathological gambling tend to use the term gambling.
children and adolescents/young people
In this review, children and adolescents/young people includes everyone between the ages of 8 and
20.
what is meant by gambling problems and pathological gambling?
Various terms are used to describe problems with gambling in literature, research and the clinical
context; anything from a gambling dependency, pathological gambling, problematic gambling, and
gambling addiction to taking risks. Generally, you differentiate between those who have serious gambling
problems and those whose problems are not quite so serious. The terms gambling addiction and
pathological gambling refer to people who fulfil the diagnosis criteria for a clinical diagnosis. The
other terms indicate that only certain criteria have been fulfilled, not sufficient for a diagnosis but that
the gambling still has a serious negative impact on the individual.
Terms used in research
Research on pathological gambling has mainly been conducted in English and the most commonly
used terms are:
• Pathological gambler, probable pathological gambler, serious problem gambler and problem
gambler, for the more serious state.
• At risk gambler, risk gambler, in transition gambler and problem gambler, for those who have less
serious problems.
This means that the term problem gambler may refer to both these states. This in turn means that you
have to check which sense is being referred to in any literature in English.
The clinical definition of pathological gambling
The clinical definition of a gambling addiction that is used in the healthcare sector, in accordance
with the American Psychiatric Diagnosis System DSM-IV (1), is “pathological gambling” in the
English edition. However, in the Swedish translation the term “spelmani” (gambling mania) is used.
According to DSM-IV the definition pathological gambling is based on the fulfilment of at least five
of the following criteria:
1. Preoccupied. You are preoccupied with gambling, plan your gambling, get money for gambling
and so on.