Gambling Facts to Ponder

August 20th, 2008 by admin

About 86% of Americans have gambled during their lives.
60% of Americans gamble in a given year.
The amount of money wagered annually in the United States is estimated to be about $500 billion.
Casino gambling (often referred to as “gaming”) had gross revenues of $84.65 billion in 2005.
The American Psychiatric Association says between 1% and 3% of the U.S. population is addicted to gambling, depending on location and demographics.
- Youth have even higher addiction rates, between 4 an 8%.
- Pathological and problem gamblers in the United States cost society approximately $5 billion per year, and an additional $40 billion, in lifetime costs related to productivity reductions, social services, bankruptcy, and health care.
- Each compulsive gambler costs the economy between $14,006 and $22,077 per year.
- About 80% of pathologic gamblers seriously consider suicide, and 20 to 30% actually attempt or succeed in killing themselves.
- Nevada has been the highest in the nation for suicides for 10 of the last 12 years
Gambling addiction rates double within 50 miles of a casino
Rates of past-year job loss are twice as high in individuals with a pathologic gambling disorder
Rates of having filed for bankruptcy are four times as high individuals with a pathologic gambling disorder