Custer and Mitt (1985), When Luck Runs Out: Help for Compulsive Gamblers and Their Families.
In their seminal book Custer and Mitt created a typology of gamblers. I suggest you research Dr. Robert Custer as he was instrumental in bringing awareness and treatment to the many people suffering from the effects of a gambling disorder. The title of their book speaks to the reality of gambling disorder’s negative effects on both the gambler and their family.
The following descriptions of typologies are my understanding of the typologies.
Casual Social: Gamble whenever-could be once a month, once a year, once every two years. No need to gamble. Sets limits of time and money. Does not borrow money to gamble or use money needed for other purposes. Does not miss events to gamble.
Serious Social: Similar to the Casual in setting of time and money limits including borrowing or diverting money for gambling with some differences. Goes often and might miss events that are not important.
Professional: Makes a living gambling. Gambles as a business. Knows how to not chase losses which is an important factor in gambling disorder. Understands risk/reward of gambling. There is no possible way to be beat slots in the long term hence the title of this blog piece.
Note: Social and professional gamblers can win. The professional by their knowledge and focus, the social gambler by leaving when they win without giving their winnings back.
Anti-Social: Gambles as a criminal activity. If not gambling another activity would fulfill anti-social ways.
Person with a Gambling Disorder: A person who; is preoccupied with gambling in the face of negative consequences, needs to gamble with more money or more often to get the same feeling, becomes restless or depressed when not able to gamble, faces negative effects on family life-work-school-reputation, chases losses/does not know when to stop, seeks bailouts…
There are two types of people with a gambling disorder, action and escape. While they overlap at times especially at the end phase of hopelessness and desperation there are some generalities. I will blog about each of the types and the similarities/differences with substance use disorder later today.