Problem Gamblers Likely to Abuse Alcohol
A new study shows that problem gamblers are more likely to have alcohol problems as well. The precise reason for the linking hasn’t been determined, but there are many hypotheses. According to USAPlayers.com, a gambling website, an epidemiologist has looked into the matter and found that part of the explanation stems from alcoholic beverages that are served in casinos.
Many casinos offer free drinks to patrons as long as they continue to gamble, which means that someone who gambles for five to six hours is likely drinking alcohol the entire time without having to pay for the drinks.
Another issue is depression. People with mounting and other problems may be more inclined to drink alcohol as a way to cope. According to the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, some problem gamblers have tens of thousands of dollars of credit card debt or debt due to gambling.
Alcohol and gambling are often intertwined, and both are readily available in many states. For example, supermarkets and gas stations that sell alcohol also usually sell lottery cards. Carlos Fernand, a local gas station attendant, said, “Many of those that come in for beer also purchase scratch cards…and these guys can get serious. We have a regular who will spend over a hundred dollars each day on scratch offs, all the while picking up a case of beer."
Florida has reported that up to 4 percent of the population has struggled with gambling problems, and about 5 percent of the population suffers from alcoholism. Although it could be a coincidence that the two figures are related, experts suggest that a percentage of each prevalence could be related.
