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The number of gambling facilities is on the rise, and critics argue that this increase will also lead to a rise in gambling addictions. However, according to two Harvard professors who have studied the effects of gambling on the American public, such claims are largely untrue.

In an article published in the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, associate professor of psychiatry Howard Shaffer and colleague Ryan Martin found that more gambling opportunities do not automatically mean more gambling problems, The Chicago Tribune reports.

"The current available evidence suggests that the rate of PG (pathological gambling) has remained relatively stable during the past 35 years despite an unprecedented increase in opportunities and access to gambling,” the authors found.

Even online gambling is not as dangerous as one might think, despite 24/7 accessibility, limited supervision, and the anonymity the Internet offers. Though Shaffer and Martin expected online casinos and betting sites to be the “Wild West of gambling,” they found the extent of Internet gambling in countries where it is legal is “astoundingly moderate.” 

Furthermore, only 5% of Americans will ever have a gambling problem, Shaffer says, and 75% of those who do have some sort of mental issue that will create problems no matter what.

"Some problem gamblers would have difficulties with gambling or something else even if there were no legal gambling available,” he said.

Though critics may have a moral objection to gambling, Shaffer and Martin say the evidence simply isn’t there to support claims that more gambling facilities = more gambling problems.

What do you think? Do you think America should completely legalize gambling, including online casinos, sports books, and betting sites? Or do you believe gambling, in any form, is bound to create trouble?

Tags: gambling, online gambling, legalize gambling, effects of gambling
Categories: Online Gambling