At Risk Tribal Nations
Tribal casinos receive a lot of attention. What doesn’t receive as much attention is the higher incidence of problem gambling among Native Americans compared to the rest of the population.
As many as 10 million Americans live with a gambling addiction and about 4% or 4 out of every 100 students showed signs of being at risk for developing problems with gambling.
Take a look at the resources to help educate yourself and others about how to avoid problem gambling.
Take A Step Forward
Washington University in St. Louis Professor David Patterson Silver Wolf (1963-2021) led a study in 2015 conducted with telephone interviews of 415 Native American adults. The study estimated Native Americans have over twice the rate of problem gambling as the US sample (18 vs. 8%).
Gambling & Criminal Activity
2.3 Million
Americans are in debt from gambling.
85%
of members engage in illegal acts to get money for gambling.
50%
of people struggling with gambling disorder have thoughts of suicide.
40%
of compulsive gamblers report the only crimes they commit are related to gambling.
80-90%
of individuals who attend Gamblers Anonymous report engaging in illegal acts to get money for gambling.
63%
of Gamblers Anonymous members reported writing bad checks, and approximately 30% reported stealing from work.
70%
of gamblers assessed as having a severe problem reported engaging in illegal acts related to gambling, compared to roughly 26% assessed to have moderate severity.
57%
had stolen to finance their gambling with a combined financial impact of theft equaling $30 million.
7x
of compulsive gamblers are arrested seven times more frequently than non-gamblers.
10 Million
Americans are addicted to gambling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Problem gambling–or gambling addiction–includes all gambling behavior patterns that compromise, disrupt or damage personal, family or vocational pursuits. The symptoms include increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability when attempting to stop, “chasing” losses, and loss of control manifested by continuation of the gambling behavior in spite of mounting, serious, negative consequences. In extreme cases, problem gambling can result in financial ruin, legal problems, loss of career and family, or even suicide.
- Hiding bills or unpaid debt
- Exaggerating wins and minimizing losses.
- Borrowing money to gamble
- Preoccupied with gambling
- Chasing losses with more gambling
- Set limits on time and money
- Know risks before you bet
- Keep gambling a social activity
- Never borrow to play
- Don’t chase your losses
- Bet only what you can afford to lose
- Gamble with money set aside for entertainment
- Never gamble depressed or stressed
- Avoid drinking alcohol while gambling
- Know how the games work and the odds of winning
- Encourage positive and social activities
- Be a positive role model
- Talk early about problem gambling
- Avoid giving scratch off tickets as gifts
- Monitor youths activities and friends
No. Problem gambling is an emotional problem that has financial consequences. If you pay all the debts of a person affected by problem gambling, the person still has a gambling problem or gambling disorder. The real issue is that they have an uncontrollable obsession with gambling.
