Front cover image for Problem gambling in Europe : challenges, prevention, and interventions

Problem gambling in Europe : challenges, prevention, and interventions

Problem Gambling in Europe Challenges, Prevention, and Interventions Edited by Gerhard Meyer, University of Bremen, Germany Tobias Hayer, University of Bremen, Germany Mark Griffiths, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom As a leisure activity, gambling dates back to ancient times. More recently, the surge in avenues for gambling--casinos, sports betting, lotteries, and remote media (e.g., Internet, mobile phone, interactive television) among them--finds growing numbers of people losing control over their gambling behaviour, usually at great personal and financial expense. Problem Gambling in Europe is the first book to offer a robust international knowledge base compiled by an interdisciplinary panel of researchers in gambling behaviour. Reports from 21 countries throughout Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Europe reveal wide variations in types of wagering activities, participation by populations, social and criminal consequences related to pathological gambling, the extent to which governments acknowledge the problem, and efforts to control it (often with the involvement of the gaming industries). For each country, noted experts discuss: Current legislation regulating gambling. Forms of gambling and their addictive potential. Participation rates and demographics. Prevalence of pathological gambling. National policies to address problem gambling. Prevention strategies and treatment methods. Problem Gambling in Europe brings insight and clarity to a widespread and complex phenomenon, and will be of considerable interest to all parties working to reduce their negative effects: social science researchers in addictions, gambling behaviour, and public health; clinical, social, and health psychologists and psychiatrists; treatment practitioners; the gaming industry; regulators; and policy makers
eBook, English, 2009
Springer, New York, N.Y., 2009
1 online resource (xxx, 335 pages) : illustrations
9780387094861, 9780387094854, 0387094865, 0387094857
405547036
List of Contributors
Introduction
Preface
Problem gambling: A European perspective
Country Reports
Belgium
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Lithuania
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Romania
Russia
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland