Pathological gambling is defined as a gambling problem serious enough to become a clinical issue. It is a major public health concern estimated to affect between 0.5 and 1.5 percent of American adults at some point.
Gambling problems are happening to anyone from any walk of life. You are going gambling from a fun, harmless diversion to an unhealthy obsession with serious consequences. You are betting on sports, scratch cards, roulette, poker, or slots in a casino.
The many labels are used to describe gambling problems that are a source of confusion for the public and frustration for researchers.
Commonly used terms are included problem, at risk, compulsive, disordered, and pathological gambling. These various terms are reflecting the efforts of researchers. It is described the various levels of severity observed gambling problems.
