The epidemiology of pathological gambling

Abstract

Increased attention has been given to the disorder of pathological gambling, especially since the formation of the latest Presidential Commission to study its social and economic impact on the nation. Researchers have experienced difficulty in establishing the prevalence of pathological gambling disorder attributable to several factors, namely: debate and confusion on the best way to define and classify the disorder; assessments of the disorder that are not diagnostic or comprehensive; and, methodological weaknesses in the majority of gambling studies caused primarily by sampling biases. This article summarizes prevalence estimates of pathological gambling disorder in the general population and for subpopulations while addressing the difficulties inherent in their interpretation. Recommendations are offered for future research into this disorder.