As states have moved from merely tolerating gambling to running their own games, as communities have increasingly turned to gambling for an economic boost, important questions arise. Has the new age of gambling increased the proportion of pathological or problem gamblers in the U.S. population? Where is the threshold between "social betting" and pathology? Is there a real threat to our families, communities, and the larger society? Pathological Gambling explores America's experience of gambling, examining: -- The diverse and frequently controversial issues surrounding the definition of pathological gambling. -- Its co-occurrence with disorders such as alcoholism, drug abuse, and depression. -- Its social characteristics and its economic consequences, both good and bad, for communities. -- The role of video gaming, Internet gambling, and other technologies in the development of gambling problems. -- Treatment approaches and their effectiveness, from Gambler's Anonymous to cognitive therapy to pharmacology. This book provides the most up-to-date information available on the prevalence of pathological and problem gambling in the United States, including a look at populations that may have a particular