While little research has focused on female problem gamblers, one study showed gambling addiction was on the rise among South African women.
Doctoral student Michelle Malkin, who in August 2017 received a William R. Eadington Fellowship through UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research, announced a study of gambling addiction in American women during her recent presentation, “Gender and Gambling Motivated Crime“.
The ongoing study focuses on the experiences of men and women who have a history of problem gambling and how their gender may play a roll in their compulsive behavior.
Michelle L. Malkin is a doctoral student at Michigan State University. She holds a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law, an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University, and a B.A. in Sociology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Malkin’s previous research topics include gambling-motivated crime, women’s experiences in the criminal justice system, ‘queer’ criminality, and convict criminology. She plans to expand her research to those convicted of gambling-motivated crimes and how the criminal justice system handles those who commit gambling-related crimes.
According to Malkin, who is no relation to the conservative pundit of the same name, her research looks at “our current understanding of compulsive gambling through a gendered lens”.
Historical Ideas on Problem Gambling
Problem Gambling was previously understood as an impulse control disorder but has now been deemed a behavioral addiction according to the American Psychological Association. As of 2018, a problem gambler is defined under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) as “a person who has crossed that invisible line into irresponsible and uncontrollable gambling.”
When defining the term for the UNLV audience, Malkin said, “That term, ‘uncontrollable’, I think is really important, because essentially the individual is being controlled by their gambling rather than the other way around.”
DSM’s Definition of Gambling Addiction
Currently, gambling is the only behavioral addiction listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Malkin stated, “It is characterized by the compulsive, repetitive process that a person cannot control or stop regardless of the negative consequences.”
“Like drug and alcohol addiction, gambling addicts experience a dangerous cycle of focus on gambling and the money needed for gambling at the expense of everything else in their lives.”
The brains of those who suffer from problem gambling have shown to closely resemble those of drug addicts. Research also shows that similar to that of substance abuse, gambling addictions may lead to criminal activity.
Originally, a person had to commit a crime based on their problem gambling in order to be considered a gambling addict. Over the years, problem gamblers no longer need to commit illegal act (as an official diagnostic criterion) for gambling disorder to be diagnosed. Instead, crime is considered a common progression that comes with the severity of the addiction.
Women with Gambling Addiction
In Malkin’s presentation, she discussed gambling addiction and crimes committed that are motivated by gambling addiction. She also noted how gender plays a roll. Women have been known to gamble since the 1800s, says Malkin. Back then, gambling was seen by many people in society as somewhat of a sin or moral failing, while today it has evolved into an accepted activity in society.
However, with the many gambling opportunities from casinos to racinos and now with the legalization of sports betting, problem gambling remains an issue for roughly 2% to 3% percent of the adult population who gambles. (Some studies suggest a 5% rate.)
Though women have always been in the mix of gamblers, there is something misunderstood about female compulsive gamblers. Mostly, the misunderstanding has to do with the consequences that come with compulsive gambling for women.
Differences between Male & Female Gamblers
Michelle Malkin’s research shows, “men start gambling at an earlier age than women and possibly gamble more often. However, women are more likely to develop into problem gambling. Researchers have repeatedly showed that although women’s gambling careers start later and are therefore shorter, they cross into problem gamblers quicker than men”.
Malkin also believes that women are more like to experience consequences that men for their problem gambling. The current study suggests that the potential of becoming a problem gambler lies more with women than with men. Malkin believes it is of importance to further explore societal changes and how they are affecting the social, economic, and legal consequences of gambling for women.
One reason women experience problem gambling at a higher rate is their choice of game – slot machines. Slots traditionally account for 70% of casino revenues and have the highest incidence of problem gambling. Women, according to Malkin’s research, primarily prefer gaming machines, while men prefer table games.
Malkin does not explain the dichotomy, though she states the differences in taste might be due to a lack of knowledge when it comes to table games.
Gambling Addiction and Crime?
Michelle Malkin draws a link between problem gambling and crime. Malkin’s research shows that 50% of those addicts that seek help commit at least one gambling-motivated crime. Most of the research conducted on Gamblers Anonymous members show that 40% to 70% of addicted have committed at least one crime. The majority of the time, most will not face legal consequences.
The economic consequences of problem gambling are the reason for players to get involved in criminal behavior. As crushing debt or bankruptcy looms, players get desperate for money. In that way, gambling-motivated crime is not entirely different from drug-related crimes.
Her research also found that 30% or more of those incarcerated are problem gamblers, with their addictions only growing more while they are in prison. Malkin states that it is nearly impossible to live in a men’s prison without gambling. Research on gambling in women’s prisons has yet to be conducted.
Despite the high incidence of gambling problem in prisons, only 5% of US prisons offer any form of gambling recovery or deprogramming, so many turn to gambling while in prison. Sadly, 1 in 5 problems gamblers see no other way out and attempt suicide as a result of their addiction.
Most Common Gambling-Related Crimes
It should come as no surprise that gambling-related crimes involve stealing money in one way or another. In Michelle Malkin’s recent presentation, she stated that the two criminal activities most commonly followed up with conviction are embezzlement and taking out a credit card in someone else’s name, which is considered fraud.
The research shows that women are more like to take out a credit card for gambling purposes than men, who are more likely to embezzle funds. Men are more likely to be in a position to embezzle funds, so their crimes are circumstance-related.
