Parental problem gambling and child wellbeing: Systematic review and synthesis of evidence

Consequently, it is essential to create a supportive environment that addresses these challenges and fosters resilience. Despite these challenges, it is important to recognize the resilience and strength that children can exhibit in the face of adversity. With the right support and intervention, children can overcome the negative impacts of parental gambling addiction and develop into well-adjusted individuals.

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However, the appropriateness of these assumptions in the context of gambling may be criticized. Second, the “Glücksspielsurvey” aims at gathering population-representative information on gambling behavior but not at collecting population-representative information on experiences with parental gambling. Hence, our figures reflect the number of minor children currently having parents with GD, which must not be misinterpreted as the (possibly higher) lifetime prevalence of ever having parents with GD. Third, considering the accumulation of multiple parental risk factors, living separate from a parent with GD might not be solely reasoned by parental GD. Finally, as parentship reflects the survey participant’s self-attributed status, we cannot fully rule out the participants interpreted parentship differently (biological, step, adopted and fostered children). To extrapolate lower and upper bounds of estimates, data on number of parents in the household and average number of children was combined with official population statistics.

Changes in gambling culture and technology have increased the odds for developing gambling addiction, VCU expert says.

Finally, we calculated our estimates using the GD criteria of the DSM-5, which capture mild forms of GD more precisely than the PGSI 2, 54. Thus, this conservative approach may be preferable from a public health perspective to fully capture the potential target population for early intervention policies. An Australian study indicated that number of children affected by parental at risk gambling exceeds the number of children of parents with GD 11.

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The statement said the government had also established mandatory ID checks for online bets, banning the use of credit cards for online betting and introducing tag lines for gambling advertisements. Gambling harm included stress, borrowing money, skipping meals or selling things to fund gambling. Jordan Wayne, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.

While the PGSI is often used as a proxy measure of harm, it was not specifically developed for this purpose. As a result, the PGSI does not fully capture the range of adverse consequences that people can experience from gambling. Furthermore, GambleAware (2023) suggest that the PGSI does not align with established frameworks of gambling harm and that it overlooks the broader impacts on friends, family and the wider community. The PGSI also conflates gambling behaviours (for example, uncontrolled gambling) with potential consequences2. These limitations highlight the need to develop new methods of assessing gambling-related harm that are rooted in established theoretical frameworks.

• Understanding the emotional and psychological effects of parental gambling addiction on children is essential in addressing the broader implications of this issue and fostering a supportive environment for recovery and healing.
• Growing up in a household affected by gambling addiction exposes children to instability, emotional neglect, and disrupted family dynamics.
• Australians lose $32 billion on legal forms of gambling each year, more per capita than anywhere in the world.
• Special focus on how to reach SLC may be appropriate, as they constitute a substantial portion of children concerned.

It is important to address the issue to protect the well-being of the entire family. Parental problem gambling severity seems to have a negative impact on predicting offspring problem gambling severity. It is possible that platform figures confirm being exposed to severe psychosocial consequences of parental gambling may act as a deterrent against problematic gambling behaviours in later life. Adults whose childhoods were riddled with parental gambling tell us in our research how sudden gambling losses added to the constant stress and financial strain, and led to feelings of depression. In particular, we aim to gather insight into how gambling harms are experienced, and who may be most at risk. The Gambling Commission uses the PGSI to estimate the prevalence of ‘at risk’ patterns of gambling and inform regulatory decisions.

For example, participants talked about how financial strain from gambling could lead them to spend less on essential items, trigger arguments with family members, and contribute to heightened levels of stress or anxiety. In some cases, relatively infrequent harms were described as having substantial and lasting effects. Recovery from gambling addiction is attainable through the right assistance and support. Various treatment options, such as therapy, counseling, support groups, and self-help programs with HelpGuide, are available to help problem gamblers overcome their addictive gambling behavior.