Youth Making Choices: Gambling Prevention Program

Unit 4: What Is Problem Gambling?Appendix AStudent Resource 2Gambling ContinuumGambling problems occur along a continuum. These are not discrete categoriesbut possible points along a range of involvement.NoGamblingCasualSocialSeriousSocialHarmfulInvolvementPathologicalGambling• No Gambling: Some people never gamble.• Casual Social Gambling: Most people gamble casually, buying the occasional raffle orlottery ticket or occasionally visiting a casino for entertainment.• Serious Social Gambling: These people play regularly. It is their main form of entertainment,but it does not come before family and work.• Harmful Involvement: These people are experiencing difficulties in their personal, work andsocial relationships.• Pathological Gambling: For a small but significant number of people, gambling seriouslyharms all aspects of their lives. People with gambling problems this severe are unable tocontrol the urge to gamble, despite the harm it causes. These people are more likely to usegambling to escape from problems and to get relief from anxiety.Youth Making Choices: Gambling Prevention Programwww.ProblemGambling.ca4.9