Abstract
In the 1960s and 1970s, many European countries legalized several forms of gambling, especially slot machines, lotteries, casinos and bingo, in order to control illegal gambling and to obtain tax revenues for government. In this paper, we examine the status of research on problem and pathological gambling in three European countries: Germany, Holland and Spain. The results of the studies as well as the relationship between these studies and the expanding gaming industries, attitudes toward gambling in the general population, and the regulation and control of gaming in each country are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (1987).Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 3rd edition, revised. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Beco¯na, E. (1991).The prevalence of pathological gambling in Galicia (Spain). Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Society for the Study of Gambling, London.
Beco¯na, E. (1993). The prevalence of pathological gambling in Galicia (Spain).Journal of Gambling Studies, 9, 353–369.
Beco¯na, E. & Fuentes, M.J. (1994).Pathological gambling evaluated by the South Oaks Gambling Screen. Paper presented at the 23rd International Congress of Applied Psychology, Madrid.
Beco¯na, E., Labrador, F., Echeburúa, E., Ochoa, E. & Vallejo, M.A. (1995). Slot machine gambling in Spain: An important and new social problem. Special Issue on Slot Machine Gambling,Journal of Gambling Studies, 11, 265–286.
Bellaire, W. & Caspari, D. (1992). Diagnosis and therapy of male gamblers in a university psychiatric hospital.Journal of Gambling Studies, 8, 143–150.
Bühringer, G. & Konstanty, R. (1989). Vielsspieler an geldautomaten in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.Suchtgefahren, 35, 1–13.
Bühringer, G. & Konstanty, R. (1992). Intensive gamblers in German-style slot machines.Journal of Gambling Studies, 8, 21–38.
Cayuela, R. (1990, August).Characteristics and situation of gambling addiction in Spain: Epidemiological and clinical aspects. Paper presented at the Eighth International Conference on Risk and Gambling, London.
Dickerson, M.G. (1993). Aproximaciones alternativas a las medición de la prevelencia del juego patológico.Psicología Conductual, 1, 339–349.
Echeburúa, E. & Báez, C. (1994).Variables demográficas y psicopatológicas de los jugadores patológicos de máquinas tragaperras [Demographic and psychopathological variables in slot machine pathological gamblers]. Manuscript in progress.
Hand, I. (1992). Editor's introduction to the special issue on gambling in Germany.Journal of Gambling Studies, 8, 3–9.
Hermkens, P. & Kok, I. (1990). Gambling in the Netherlands: Developments, participation and compulsive gambling.Journal of Gambling Studies, 6, 223–240.
Ladouceur, R. (1991). Prevalence estimates of pathological gambling in Quebec.Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 36, 732–734.
Legarda, J.J., Babio, R. & Abreu, J.M. (1992). Prevalence estimates of pathological gambling in Seville (Spain).British Journal of Addictions, 87, 767–770.
Lesieur, H.R. & Blume, S.B. (1987). The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS): A new instrument for the identification of pathological gamblers.American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 1184–1188.
Lesieur, H.R. & Rosenthal, R.J. (1990). Pathological gambling: A review of the literature (prepared for the American Psychiatric Association Task Force on DSM-IV Committee on Disorders of Impulse Control Not Elsewhere Classified).Journal of Gambling Studies, 7, 5–40.
Lesieur, H.R., Blume, S.B. & Zoppa, R.M. (1986). Alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling.Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 10, 33–38.
Meyer, G. (1992). The gambling market in the Federal Republic of Germany and the help-seeking of pathological gamblers.Journal of Gambling Studies, 8, 11–20.
Meyer, G. & Bachmann, M. (1993).Glücksspiel Wenn der traum vom glück zum alptraum wird. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
Nederlandse Verenigung, CAD's. (1992).Ladis 1991. Utrecht, Holland: Nederlandse Verenigung, CAD's.
Ochoa, E. & Labrador, F.J. (1994).El juego patológico [Pathological gambling]. With E. Echeburúa, E. Beco¯na & M.A. Vallejo. Barcelona: Plaza & Janés.
Rosecrance, J. (1988).Gambling without guilt: The legitimation of an American pastime. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Strobl, M. (1991).Auszug ans der EBIS-Statistiken 1988–1990 um Thema Spieler. Unveröflentlichtes Datenmaterial für der Workshop “Pathologisches Spielverbalten” der “Deutschen Hamptstelle gegendie Suchtgefalmen.”
Thompson, W.N. & Pinney, J.K. (1990). The emergence of Dutch casinos: A case study of mismarketing?Journal of Gambling Studies, 6, 205–221.
Toro, A.J. (1991).Analisis descriptivo de algunas caracteristicas sociales de los ludópatas tratados en el Centro ACOJER [Descriptive analysis of some social characteristics of pathological gamblers treated at the ACOJER Centre]. Paper presented at the 1 Congreso Andaluz de Jugadores de Azar en Rehabilitactión.
Volberg, R.A. (1993). Estimating the prevalence of pathological gambling in the United States. In W.R. Eadington & J.A. Cornelius (Eds.),Gambling behavior and problem gambling. Reno: University of Nevada Press.
Volberg, R.A. & Steadman, H.J. (1988). Refining prevalence estimates of pathological gambling.American Journal of Psychiatry, 145, 502–505.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Beco¯na, E. Prevalence surveys of problem and pathological gambling in Europe: The cases of Germany, Holland and Spain. J Gambling Stud 12, 179–192 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01539173
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01539173