Doctor Robert Custer identifies six types of gamblers:
- Professional: skilled, able to control
- Anti-Social or Criminal: use gambling to cheat, involved In illegal activities
- Casual Social: recreation and excitement, for win, loss is the cost of entertainment
- Serious Social: gambling main form of recreation but it is second to family and vacation
- Relief/Escape: to find relief from anxiety, depression, anger
- Compulsive: consists of four features: it is at the end of the continuum):
- Progression: can’t stop, bets go up; will continue gambling as long as they have funds. Time spent gambling increases.
- Intolerance of losing, when losses occur, the compulsive gambler “chases” the lost money. Losses are concealed from family members and lying becomes a major element in the gambling cycle.
- Preocupation: Thoughts about gambling become a constant obsession.
- Disregard for consequences: During this final stage, forgery, thefts and embezzlement are common. Despite these illegal acts, the gambler intends to score a big win and set everything right.