It almost goes without saying that the child of a compulsive gambler is at a much higher risk of developing the problem him or her self. Aside from emulating parental behaviour, the child will often use gambling as a way of ingratiating him or her self with a preoccupied, emotionally distant gambling parent. A child of a problem gambler may find themselves ignored due to the parent’s gambling needs (i.e the time and effort required to maintain a gambling habit). The child quickly works out that one way of gaining attention is to become part of that world. Express interest in gambling, try to start conversations about it, show the parent that you can be a companion or aid to their beloved leisure-time activity. It may be the only way of gaining the love and attention that you need.

However this does not mean that those who come from a non-gambling family cannot develop a gambling problem. Family background is a contributory factor, but that alone does not create a problem gambler.

Coming from a family background where money is very important has also been shown to be a contributory factor in the development of problem gambling. This can apply to both ends of the financial spectrum. A financially insecure childhood, where money is always a problem and source of distress or conflict, can result in adulthood where the overwhelming desire is to be financially secure. The means of procuring this financial security may include unrealistic means such as gambling. Conversely a childhood where money is abundant and taken for granted can lead to a desire to get ‘kicks’ from gambling. The value of money has never been learnt. It is something to play with, to be blasé about, rather than something necessary for life that you must earn and manage.

Personality type: a ‘show-off’ with low self esteem?

Problem gamblers are often seen by those around them as ‘flashy’ sorts. They like to show off and feel important. Yet in actual fact they are more than likely lacking in confidence and self esteem. The gambler needs to uphold this type of self-image in order to keep up the deception. Gambling is a kind of emotional crutch - the gambler uses it as a way of feeling better about him or her self. Whilst gambling they tell themselves that they are better than those around them who lack the brains or courage to gamble. On a winning streak the gambler feels supremely justified and vastly superior to those around them. Of course this fallacy cannot be sustained, and when the losses pile up and the money runs out, the gambler ends up feeling more depressed and low than before. They often hide this by pretending not to care. But once they are alone, away from the gambling environment, the stupidity of their actions hits home and the feelings of self-loathing come seeping in.