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Gambling Disorder Due to Brazilian Animal Game (“Jogo do bicho”): Gambling Behavior and Psychopathology

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Abstract

Gambling is currently widespread across the globe and despite legally restricted, it is significantly common in Brazil. A traditional and common form of gambling in Brazil is the Brazilian animal game (BAG)—“Jogo do bicho” in Portuguese. In 2013, BAG activities collected approximately 19 billion Brazilian reais—equivalent to more than 8 billon American dollars, a figure almost 60 % higher than legal lotteries. Although a common form of gambling, the gambling behavior and psychopathology of gambling disorder (GD) associated with BAG has never been systematically studied. The aim of this study is to conduct, the first research approaching GD due to BAG. We assessed 897 participants of whom 63 subjects (7.0 %) presented with GD due to BAG and 834 with GD associated with other forms of gambling. After comparing these two groups, major differences were found in demographics, gambling behavior elements and psychopathological variables. This research reinforces the need for further research on BAG and the need for specific approaches in GD. The particularities of BAG may affect treatment strategies as, for example, suggest some adaptations in social and psychotherapeutic approaches. We also highlight the need to acknowledge the “hidden” BAG as a potential addictive game.

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Conflict of interests

Dr. Medeiros has no conflicts of interest or funding to declare. Dr. Tavares receives funding from the National Council on Research (CNPq, Brazil). Dr. Grant received a grant by the Center for Excellence in Gambling Research by the Institute for Responsible Gaming. Mr. Dr. Grant has received research Grants from NIMH, NIDA (RC1-DA028279-01), National Center for Responsible Gaming, Forest, Transcept, Roche, and Psyadon Pharmaceuticals, and the University of South Florida. He receives yearly compensation from Springer Publishing for acting as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Gambling Studies and has received royalties from Oxford University Press, American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc., Norton Press, and McGraw Hill.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, Rua Padre João Manuel, 173. Ap 71, São Paulo, SP, 01411-001, Brazil

    Gustavo Medeiros & Hermano Tavares

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Jon Grant

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  1. Gustavo Medeiros
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Correspondence to Gustavo Medeiros.

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Medeiros, G., Grant, J. & Tavares, H. Gambling Disorder Due to Brazilian Animal Game (“Jogo do bicho”): Gambling Behavior and Psychopathology. J Gambl Stud 32, 231–241 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-015-9527-0

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