The Prevalence, Mental Health and Criminal Characteristics of Potential Problem Gamblers in a Substance Using Treatment Seeking Population

Crime and Gambling Disorders: A Systematic Review

“…However, this study was unable to distinguish which of these crimes were specifically gamblingrelated. Furthermore, while Rudd and Thomas (2016) found that potential problem gamblers were more likely to commit offences for financial gain, consistent with the broader gambling literature (e.g., Blaszczynski and McConaghy, 1994b), they also found that these individuals were highly prone to violent offending (e.g., robbery) as well as property and drug offences.…”

“…In contrast to these studies, Rudd and Thomas' (2016) retrospective analysis of clinical cases at a substance abuse service was able to identify probable problem gamblers and criminal behaviours associated with these individuals. However, this study was unable to distinguish which of these crimes were specifically gamblingrelated.…”

“…Where the focus of interviewing remains on offences motivated by obtaining money, participants might either fail to, or avoid, disclosing violent crimes for similar reasons. Therefore, reviewed studies relying on self-report may disguise a higher occurrence of violent gambling-related offences than the results indicate (Abbott, McKenna, & Giles, 2005;Tessenyi & Kovacs, 2016;Lloyd, Chadwick, & Serin, 2014;Templer, Kaiser, & Siscoe, 1993;May-Chahal, Humphreys, Clifton, Francis, & Reith, 2017;Preston et al, 2012;Pastwa-Wojciechowska, 2011;Turner, Preston, McAvoy, Saunders, & Jain, 2009;Blaszczynski & McConaghy, 1994a, 1994bGranero et al, , 2015Meyer & Stadler, 1999;Martin, MacDonald, & Ishiguro, 2012;Rudd & Thomas, 2016;Ledgerwood, Weinstock, Morasco, & Petry, 2007).…”

“…The analysis samples for these studies ranged from 94 to 18,625 participants. Nine studies examined problem gambling among incarcerated individuals (Abbott, McKenna, & Giles, 2005;Tessenyi & Kovacs, 2016;Lloyd, Chadwick, & Serin, 2014;Templer, Kaiser, & Siscoe, 1993;May-Chahal, Humphreys, Clifton, Francis, & Reith, 2017;Preston et al, 2012;Pastwa-Wojciechowska, 2011;Turner, Preston, McAvoy, Saunders, & Jain, 2009) and a further eight sampled from individuals seeking treatment for problem gambling from various sources including Gamblers Anonymous and in-and out-patient facilities (Blaszczynski & McConaghy, 1994a, 1994bGranero et al, , 2015Meyer & Stadler, 1999;Martin, MacDonald, & Ishiguro, 2012;Rudd & Thomas, 2016;Ledgerwood, Weinstock, Morasco, & Petry, 2007). Of the remaining studies, three used retrospective analysis of court files, police files and population surveys and statistics (or some combination; Crofts, 2003;Kuoppamäki, Kääriäinen, & Lind, 2014;Arthur, Williams, & Belanger, 2014), two sampled gamblers identified in larger cohort studies (Gorsane et al, 2017;Laursen, Plauborg, Ekholm, Larsen, & Juel, 2016), and one was a review of relevant studies in Spanish and English (Folino & Abait, 2009).…”

“…Most of the studies (N=15) assessed whether participants had previously committed a crime (gambling-related or otherwise; Blaszczynski & McConaghy, 1994a;Ledgerwood et al, 2007Meyer & Stadler, 1999;Laursen et al, 2016;Preston et al, 2012;Rudd & Thomas, 2016;Arthur et al, 2014;Martin et al, 2012;Pastwa-Wojciechowska, 2011;Turner et al, 2009). Eleven studies collected data on other potential risk factors for crime and gambling such as family dysfunction, substance use and risk-taking behaviours Tessenyi & Kovacs, 2016;Lloyd et al, 2014;Meyer & Stadler, 1999;May-Chahal et al, 2017;Preston et al, 2012;Rudd & Thomas, 2016;Arthur et al, 2014;Martin et al, 2012;Pastwa-Wojciechowska, 2011). Furthermore, five studies tested their sample for the presence of antisocial personality disorder (Blaszczynski & McConaghy, 1994a;Ledgerwood et al, 2007;Meyer & Stadler, 1999;Gorsane et al, 2017;Pastwa-Wojciechowska, 2011).…”