7 billion dollars in profit. By 2002 the figure grew considerably, showing a profit of 11.3 billion dollars. Additionally, the accessibility to gambling has become very easy, which indicates why the problem has become as large as it is. It has been said that 340,000 people in Ontario have moderate to severe problems with gambling. Women gamble just as much as men, but men tend to spend more. However, women also tend to use less coping skills when they have a gambling problem. Males have a higher propensity than females to abuse substances in conjunction with a gambling problem. They are also more prone to use coping skills and strategies in comparison (Sinha, 2004). Teens are also gambling, and they are showing higher problems with it compared to adults (Staff, 2004, p. 10). Groups or social support might aid in the development of a gambling problem. In many cases, youths develop this addiction for the simple fact that they need money. College students seem to be overly sensitive to a social behavior that contribute to the maintenance of high risk behaviours like gambling (Sinha, 2004). .
There are different levels of gambling, depending on how mild or severe the problem is. Most people gamble casually without experiencing any harm. Some people gamble more often, but their gambling does not interfere with their family or other responsibilities. On the other hand, the people who gamble excessively do face problems at work, home, and in all aspects of their life (Staff, 2004, p. 11). When we think about gambling or what the risks could involve, we must understand that not all gambling is harmful. Depending on the involvement, it doesn`t always present a problem (Staff, 2004, p. 12). A person is more at risk of developing a gambling problem when they have experienced a recent loss like losing their job, or a change in their relationship such as divorce (Staff, 2004, p. 14). In order to understand or explain the risks of gambling, it can be categorized into two groups – low risk or high risk.