Gambling

Gambling Support Group:

• Gamblers Anonymous
  401 S. 11^th Street
  St. Joseph, MO
  Meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday and at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Rates of Gambling

• Nationally
  • The most recent research estimates that 6% of college students in the U.S. have a serious gambling problem that can result in psychological difficulties, unmanageable debt and failing grades.
  • Research has shown that teenagers and college-aged young adults are more impulsive and at higher risk for developing gambling disorders than adults.
  • Most adults with a gambling problem started gambling at an early age. Scientists have learned that the adolescent brain is still growing, which accounts for the frequently impulsive behavior and unwise decisions of teenagers.
  • Compared to female college students, research suggests that male college students are more likely to have gambled in the past year, gambled with more money and reported having gambling problems.
  • Gambling disorders are associated with numerous negative consequences and are highly correlated with other risky behaviors in the college student population.
  • Compared to students without gambling problems, students with gambling problems are more likely to use tobacco, drink heavily or binge drink, smoke marijuana or use other illegal drugs, drive under the influence and have a low GPA.
• In Missouri
  • 23% of Missouri college students report gambling.
  • Of Missouri college students who report gambling, they most often do so in the following ways (sourced from https://www.mopip.org/topics/gambling.html):

Every semester students drop-out because of gambling problems. They find themselves in a financial mess, they are stressed-out, they miss class, and they often feel angry, shameful, and depressed.

The following are some signs of a possible gambling problem:

• Gambling more often
• Gambling for more money
• Gambling for longer periods of time
• Gambling in spite of negative consequences, such as large losses or poor grades
• Gambling as a way to cope

Recognizing gambling problems among your friends:

• Unexplained absences/sudden drop in grades
• Change of personality/ visible changes in behavior
• Possession of a large amount of money; brags about winnings
• An unusual interest in sports scores or stats
• An intense interest in gambling conversations
• Unexplained financial problems or clues about financial problems (borrowing money)