Gambling disorder

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Gambling disorder

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The growth of online casinos offers new temptations for problem gamblers.

19 May,2011 01:52 pm

Researchers have made progress recognising and understanding gambling disorders but need to keep pace in the future with the growing access to gaming opportunities.There are sharp variations between countries and regions on the percentage of people whose urge to gamble for money can be classified as a pathological problem. In Hong Kong the rate of gambling disorder is thought to be as high as one in 20. Only 10 percent of problem gamblers seek treatment. Problem gamblers sometimes treat themselves by avoiding public places but the Internet provides a new challenge by allowing them to gamble in the privacy of their homes.Problem gamblers often have other psychiatric disorders or substance abuse problems.