Problem Gambling Associated with Violent and Criminal Behaviour: A Danish Population-Based Survey and Register Study

Abstract

This study compares the number of criminal charges among problem gamblers (N = 384) and non-problem gamblers including non-gamblers (N = 18,241) and examines whether problem gambling is more strongly associated with income-generating crimes like theft, fraud and forgery than other types of crimes such as violent crimes. A cohort study was carried out, based on data from the Danish Health and Morbidity Surveys in 2005 and 2010, which were linked at the individual level with data from The Danish National Criminal Register. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between problem gambling and charges for different categories of crime. We found that problem gamblers had significantly higher odds of being charged than non-problem gamblers (adjusted odds ratio 1.5; 95 % confidence interval 1.1-1.9). The odds ratio for economic crime charges was 2.6 (1.5-4.5), for violence charges 2.2 (1.1-4.5), and for drug charges 3.7 (1.7-8.0). For road traffic charges the odds ratio was 1.3 (1.0-1.8). Hence, there was a strong association between problem gambling and being charged except for road traffic charges; however the association was not stronger for economic charges than for violence and drug charges.

Crime and Gambling Disorders: A Systematic Review

“…Additionally, the relatively recent emergence of studies suggesting that the rate of violent gambling-related crime might also be higher than in non-gambling populations (Rudd & Thomas, 2016;Laursen, Plauborg, Ekholm, Larsen, & Juel, 2016;Turner, Preston, Saunders, McAvoy, & Jain, 2009) may be symptomatic of a wider underestimation of the prevalence of violent gambling-related crimes in the literature. While it is probable that many of these violent crimes were financiallymotivated, the broad range of offences committed by participants across these studies necessitated the consideration of other influences beyond financial motivations, for example, risk-taking (Rudd & Thomas, 2016;Laursen et al, 2016).…”

“…For example, Rudd and Thomas (2016) found that potential problem gamblers committed crimes for financial gain at a higher rate than non-problem gamblers; however, they also demonstrated elevated rates of violent crimes such as robbery. Similarly, Laursen, Plauborg, Ekholm, Larsen, and Juel (2016) found that problem gamblers were significantly more likely than non-problem gamblers to be charged with both economic and violent crimes, and no more likely to be charged with one type than the other. Notably, in this study, violent crimes were not necessarily income-generating (Laursen et al, 2016).…”

“…Similarly, Laursen, Plauborg, Ekholm, Larsen, and Juel (2016) found that problem gamblers were significantly more likely than non-problem gamblers to be charged with both economic and violent crimes, and no more likely to be charged with one type than the other. Notably, in this study, violent crimes were not necessarily income-generating (Laursen et al, 2016).…”

“…Nine studies examined problem gambling among incarcerated individuals (Abbott, McKenna, & Giles, 2005;Tessenyi & Kovacs, 2016;Lloyd, Chadwick, & Serin, 2014;Templer, Kaiser, & Siscoe, 1993;May-Chahal, Humphreys, Clifton, Francis, & Reith, 2017;Preston et al, 2012;Pastwa-Wojciechowska, 2011;Turner, Preston, McAvoy, Saunders, & Jain, 2009) and a further eight sampled from individuals seeking treatment for problem gambling from various sources including Gamblers Anonymous and in-and out-patient facilities (Blaszczynski & McConaghy, 1994a, 1994bGranero et al, , 2015Meyer & Stadler, 1999;Martin, MacDonald, & Ishiguro, 2012;Rudd & Thomas, 2016;Ledgerwood, Weinstock, Morasco, & Petry, 2007). Of the remaining studies, three used retrospective analysis of court files, police files and population surveys and statistics (or some combination; Crofts, 2003;Kuoppamäki, Kääriäinen, & Lind, 2014;Arthur, Williams, & Belanger, 2014), two sampled gamblers identified in larger cohort studies (Gorsane et al, 2017;Laursen, Plauborg, Ekholm, Larsen, & Juel, 2016), and one was a review of relevant studies in Spanish and English (Folino & Abait, 2009).…”

“…Most of the studies (N=15) assessed whether participants had previously committed a crime (gambling-related or otherwise; Blaszczynski & McConaghy, 1994a;Ledgerwood et al, 2007Meyer & Stadler, 1999;Laursen et al, 2016;Preston et al, 2012;Rudd & Thomas, 2016;Arthur et al, 2014;Martin et al, 2012;Pastwa-Wojciechowska, 2011;Turner et al, 2009). Eleven studies collected data on other potential risk factors for crime and gambling such as family dysfunction, substance use and risk-taking behaviours Tessenyi & Kovacs, 2016;Lloyd et al, 2014;Meyer & Stadler, 1999;May-Chahal et al, 2017;Preston et al, 2012;Rudd & Thomas, 2016;Arthur et al, 2014;Martin et al, 2012;Pastwa-Wojciechowska, 2011).…”