Editing Problem gambling (section)

===North America===
Lizbeth García Quevedo, director of the Coordination with Federal Entities (CONADIC), spoke of pathological gambling as a strong addiction in Mexico: "It has very similar behaviors, that is why some experts consider it an addiction because it is similar in the behaviors, in the origins, some risk factors that can trigger pathological gambling, it can also trigger drug consumption". In Mexico there could be between one and three million people addicted to gambling. "They should be aware of what their children are doing, and on the other hand, they should motivate pro-active gambling, healthy gambling", commented Lizbeth García Quevedo.  The Ministry of Health document highlights that a study on pathological gambling that analyzed 46 studies carried out in Canada, the United States, Australia, Sweden, Norway, England, Switzerland and Spain, revealed that the prevalence of pathological gambling is relatively higher among adolescents, which shows the continuity of the problem considering that many pathological gamblers state that they started their gambling behavior at an early age.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-11 |title=Ludopatía, comportamiento incontrolable por los juegos de azar {{!}} México {{!}} Noticieros Televisa |url=http://noticieros.televisa.com/mexico/1502/ludopatia-comportamiento-incontrolable-juegos-azar/ |access-date=2022-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911065048/http://noticieros.televisa.com/mexico/1502/ludopatia-comportamiento-incontrolable-juegos-azar/ |archive-date=September 11, 2016 }}</ref>

In the United States, the percentage of pathological gamblers was 0.6 percent, and the percentage of problem gamblers was 2.3 percent in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americangaming.org/industry-resources/research/fact-sheets/history-problem-gambling-prevalence-rates |title=History of Problem Gambling Prevalence Rates |publisher=[[American Gaming Association]] |access-date=April 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116160632/http://www.americangaming.org/industry-resources/research/fact-sheets/history-problem-gambling-prevalence-rates |archive-date=November 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Studies commissioned by the [[National Gambling Impact Study Commission Act]] has shown the prevalence rate ranges from 0.1 percent to 0.6 percent.<ref>{{cite book |author=National Opinion Research Center |date=April 1, 1999 |title=Gambling Impact and Behavior Study |chapter=The Prevalence and Correlates of Gambling Problems Among Adults |publisher=National Gambling Impact Study Commission |page=25}}</ref> Nevada has the highest percentage of pathological gambling; a 2002 report estimated 2.2 to 3.6 percent of Nevada residents over the age of 18 could be called problem gamblers. Also, 2.7 to 4.3 percent could be called probable pathological gamblers.<ref>{{cite report |last=Voberg |first=Rachel |date=March 22, 2002 |url=http://www.austgamingcouncil.org.au/images/pdf/eLibrary/911.pdf |title=Gambling and Problem Gambling in Nevada |publisher=Nevada Department of Human Resources |access-date=April 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318161756/http://www.austgamingcouncil.org.au/images/pdf/eLibrary/911.pdf |archive-date=March 18, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

According to a 1997 meta-analysis by [[Harvard Medical School]]'s division on addictions, 1.1 percent of the adult population of the United States and Canada could be called pathological gamblers.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shaffer |first1=Howard |last2=Hall |first2=Mathew |last3=Vander Bilt |first3=Joni |date=September 1999 |title=Estimating the Prevalence of Disordered Gambling Behavior in the United States and Canada: A Research Synthesis |journal=American Journal of Public Health |volume=89 |issue=9 |pages=1369–1377 |doi=10.2105/AJPH.89.9.1369 |pmid=10474555 |pmc=1508762}}</ref> A 1996 study estimated 1.2 to 1.9 percent of adults in Canada were pathological.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Ladouceur |first=Robert |date=June 1996 |title=The Prevalence of Pathological Gambling in Canada |journal=Journal of Gambling Studies |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=129–142 |doi=10.1007/BF01539170 |pmid=24233912|s2cid=32686402 }}</ref> In Ontario, a 2006 report showed 2.6 percent of residents experienced "moderate gambling problems" and 0.8 percent had "severe gambling problems".<ref>{{cite report |last1=Weibe |first1=Jamie |last2=Mun |first2=Phil |last3=Kauffman |first3=Nadine |date=September 2006 |url=https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/48245 |title=Gambling and Problem Gambling in Ontario |publisher=Responsible Gambling Council |hdl=1880/48245}}</ref> In Quebec, an estimated 0.8 percent of the adult population were pathological gamblers in 2002.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ladouceur |first1=Robert |last2=Jacques |first2=Christian |last3=Chevalier |first3=Serge |last4=Sévigny |first4=Serge |last5=Hamel |first5=Denis |date=July 2005 |url=http://ww1.cpa-apc.org:8080/publications/archives/cjp/2005/july/cjp-july-05-Ladouceur-OR.pdf |title=Prevalence of Pathological Gambling in Quebec in 2002 |journal=The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry |volume=50 |issue=8 |pages=451–456 |doi=10.1177/070674370505000804 |pmid=16127962|s2cid=2096562 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Although most who gamble do so without harm, approximately 6 million American adults are addicted to gambling.<ref name=NCGP>{{cite press release |url=http://www.ncpgambling.org/files/Press/Super%20Bowl%20XLVII%20Release%202013.pdf |title=Don't Let Betting on the Super Bowl Take Control: The National Council on Problem Gambling Offers Help and Hope to Gambling Addicts |date=31 January 2013 |publisher=National Council on Problem Gambling (US)}}</ref>

According to a survey of 11th and 12th graders in [[Wood County, Ohio]] found that the percentage who reported being unable to control their gambling rose to 8.3 percent in 2022, up from just 4.2 percent in 2018. The reasons for the increase cited, are the time spent online during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], gambling-like elements put into video games, and the increased legalization of [[sports betting]] in a number of U.S. states.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ansberry |first=Clare |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/problem-gambling-is-on-the-rise-among-young-men-11671388600 |title=Problem Gambling Is on the Rise Among Young Men |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=2022-12-18 |accessdate=2022-12-19 }}</ref>

According to Jennifer Trimpey, as the legality of online sport betting and online casino gambling increase across the United States, almost all governments of states with legal online gambling offer state-run self-exclusion programs, and most major online betting operators provide their own self-exclusion programs as well.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Trimpey |first1=Jennifer |title=Self-exclusion for problem gamblers: A comprehensive overview of self-exclusion programs and efficacy in the US |url=https://www.syracuse.com/betting/responsible-gambling/self-exclusion/ |website=Syracuse.com |date=September 25, 2023 |access-date=9 October 2023}}</ref>

Signs of a gambling problem include:<ref name=NCGP/>{{medical citation needed|date=June 2015}}
* Using income or savings to gamble while letting bills go unpaid
* Repeated unsuccessful attempts to stop gambling
* Chasing losses
* Losing sleep over thoughts of gambling
* Arguing with friends or family about gambling behavior
* Feeling depressed or suicidal because of gambling losses