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Is There a Continuum of Behavioural Dependence in Problem Gambling? Evidence from 15 Years of Australian Prevalence Research

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Abstract

A common assumption in many public frameworks is that the harms and behavioural risk factors associated with gambling disorder lie on a continuum. At one end is lower risk or recreational gambling, and at the other, problem or disordered gambling. Movements along this continuum are associated with gradual increases or decreases in the level of behaviour and associated harm. This perspective is often advanced in opposition to more clinical or categorical frameworks that view problem gambling as a distinct clinical category from the other groups. In this paper, we investigate these competing perspectives with reference to 15 years of Australian prevalence studies. We examine the relationship between PGSI severity classifications and the endorsement of the principal criteria of the DSM-5 (e.g. tolerance, chasing, impaired control). The results showed that while elements of behavioural dependence increase across the PGSI categories (low to moderate to problem), problem gamblers have disproportionately greater endorsement. The PGSI severity and behavioural dependence relationship corresponds more strongly to a J-curve than a linear or r-curve and therefore lends greater support of a more categorical conceptualisation of the disorder.

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Notes

  1. Data from 6 surveys were available to the authors to calculate an estimated mean value.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

    Paul Delfabbro

  2. College of Education, Social Work and Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia

    Daniel L. King

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  1. Paul Delfabbro
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Correspondence to Paul Delfabbro.

Ethics declarations

This paper is a review of results in pre-existing reports and is exempt for separate ethical review under the NHRMC National Statement in Australia.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Disclosure of Interests

Paul Delfabbro

I have received funding for research, support for conference travel and speaking engagements from government and non-government research bodies such as AGRI, VRGF, IAGR, and the Department of Consumer Affairs, GambleAware/RGT, Gambling Research Australia, Independent Gambling Authority, the ARC, NHMRC, Channel 7 Children’s Foundation, and Australian Institute of Criminology. I have conducted paid consultancy work on responsible gambling for regulatory bodies, government, and peak bodies such as the Australasian Gambling Commission and reviews of responsible gambling programs for some industry groups (e.g. reviews of list of indicators, self-exclusion program, host responsibility quality in relation to international best practice), but not received direct industry funding for any research. I acknowledge that many peak research bodies are indirectly funded by industry through levies or contributions.

Daniel King

I have received funding for research, support for conference travel and speaking engagements from government and non-government research bodies such as the VRGF, SSBA, and the ARC. I have conducted paid consultancy work on gaming disorder and gaming-gambling convergence, but not received direct industry funding for any research. I am a member of a World Health Organization advisory group on gaming disorder.

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Delfabbro, P., King, D.L. Is There a Continuum of Behavioural Dependence in Problem Gambling? Evidence from 15 Years of Australian Prevalence Research. Int J Ment Health Addiction 20, 2208–2220 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-021-00509-y

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