Rolling the Big DiceRolling the Big DiceUK Policy on Gambling and GamingUK Policy on Gambling and Gaming

P. R. Yates, Senior Research Fellow, Scottish Addiction P. R. Yates, Senior Research Fellow, Scottish Addiction Studies, Department of Applied Social Science, University Studies, Department of Applied Social Science, University

of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland.of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland.

e-mail: p.r.yates@stir.ac.uk e-mail: p.r.yates@stir.ac.uk

url: http://www.dass.stir.ac.uk/sections/scot-ad/url: http://www.dass.stir.ac.uk/sections/scot-ad/

ContentContent Features of problem gamblingFeatures of problem gambling The relationship to other The relationship to other

addictionsaddictions Developing a theory of problem Developing a theory of problem

gamblinggambling Current UK developmentsCurrent UK developments

Gambling – Features (APA)Gambling – Features (APA)

“persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behaviour” characterized by an inability to control gambling, leading to significant deleterious psychosocial consequences: personal, familial, financial, professional and legal.

(APA 1994).

Gambling – Features (DSMIV)Gambling – Features (DSMIV) needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money to needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money to

achieve the desired excitementachieve the desired excitement gambles to escape problems or relieve dysphoric moodgambles to escape problems or relieve dysphoric mood after losing money, often returns another day to get after losing money, often returns another day to get

even (‘chasing’)even (‘chasing’) lies to conceal the extent of involvement with gamblinglies to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or

stop gamblingstop gambling relies on others’ money to relieve a desperate financial relies on others’ money to relieve a desperate financial

situationsituation is restless or irritable when cutting down or stopping is restless or irritable when cutting down or stopping

gamblinggambling jeopardized or lost relationship, job, or career jeopardized or lost relationship, job, or career

opportunityopportunity has committed illegal acts to finance gamblinghas committed illegal acts to finance gambling

Gambling – Features (Biology)Gambling – Features (Biology)

Studies show:Studies show: Elevated levels of beta-endorphin Elevated levels of beta-endorphin

which peaks during gambling which peaks during gambling activityactivity

Hypoactive serotonin system – Hypoactive serotonin system – low levels of serotonin are low levels of serotonin are consistent with high levels of consistent with high levels of impulsivityimpulsivity

Gambling – An addiction?Gambling – An addiction? Some similarities indicated by co-Some similarities indicated by co-

morbiditymorbidity 70% also have alcohol problems70% also have alcohol problems 36% have problems with illicit drugs36% have problems with illicit drugs Gamblers report increased tension or Gamblers report increased tension or

excitement immediately prior to the excitement immediately prior to the eventevent

Gamblers report a release of tension Gamblers report a release of tension after the eventafter the event

But persistent differences remainBut persistent differences remain

Gambling - TheoriesGambling - Theories addictions (Jacobs 1986; Blume 1987),addictions (Jacobs 1986; Blume 1987), psychodynamic (Bergler 1958; Rosenthal psychodynamic (Bergler 1958; Rosenthal

1992; Wildman 1997), 1992; Wildman 1997), psychobiological (Blaszczynski psychobiological (Blaszczynski et alet al. 1986; . 1986;

Carlton & Goldstein 1987; Lesieur & Carlton & Goldstein 1987; Lesieur & Rosenthal 1991; Rugle 1993; Comings Rosenthal 1991; Rugle 1993; Comings et alet al. . 1996), 1996),

behavioural (Anderson & Brown 1984; behavioural (Anderson & Brown 1984; McConaghy McConaghy et alet al. 1983), . 1983),

cognitive (Sharpe & Tarrier 1993; Ladouceur cognitive (Sharpe & Tarrier 1993; Ladouceur & Walker 1996)& Walker 1996)

sociological (Rosecrance 1985; Ocean & Smith sociological (Rosecrance 1985; Ocean & Smith 1993)1993)

Theory – Model - DiagnosisTheory – Model - Diagnosis

Consensus around “drug, set and Consensus around “drug, set and setting”setting”

Diagnosis by symptom (DSMIV)Diagnosis by symptom (DSMIV) Diagnosis by harm - subjective Diagnosis by harm - subjective Diagnosis affected by socio-economic Diagnosis affected by socio-economic

factors, gender, age, class, culture factors, gender, age, class, culture etc.etc.

UK Gaming policy – legal UK Gaming policy – legal frameworkframework

Gaming laws are complex and recent Gaming laws are complex and recent (1958)(1958)

Most gaming subjected to licenceMost gaming subjected to licence Restrictions on licencees eased in the Restrictions on licencees eased in the

past decadepast decade Significant levels of illicit gamblingSignificant levels of illicit gambling Low-level wagering subject to by-laws Low-level wagering subject to by-laws

by amountby amount Affected by internet gambling in the Affected by internet gambling in the

past decadepast decade

UK Gaming policy – recent UK Gaming policy – recent proposalsproposals Proposal for a “super-casino”Proposal for a “super-casino”

Accompanying proposal for large regional Accompanying proposal for large regional casinoscasinos

Subjected to a bid, process allocated to an Subjected to a bid, process allocated to an independent tribunalindependent tribunal

Independent tribunal recommended the “super-Independent tribunal recommended the “super-casino” to be sited in Manchestercasino” to be sited in Manchester

Large regional casinos to be sited in: Great Large regional casinos to be sited in: Great Yarmouth, Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Yarmouth, Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newham, Solihull, SouthamptonKeynes, Newham, Solihull, Southampton

A series of smaller casinos to be sited in: Bath A series of smaller casinos to be sited in: Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay, WolverhamptonSwansea, Torbay, Wolverhampton

UK Gaming policy – political UK Gaming policy – political outcomeoutcome

Two legislative houses of parliament – Two legislative houses of parliament – Commons and LordsCommons and Lords

Legislation narrowly approved in the Legislation narrowly approved in the House of CommonsHouse of Commons

Rejected in the House of Lords – on Rejected in the House of Lords – on the “super-casino” issuethe “super-casino” issue

Government insists “no Plan B”Government insists “no Plan B” To be resolve by “a son of the manse”To be resolve by “a son of the manse”