Tension release is important to 
problem gamblers.

Problem gamblers are partly motivated by a need to release tension, says Dr Dave Clarke from the School of Psychology at Albany.

Dr Clarke is part of a research team studying gambling in New Zealand, and recently published a paper in the Journal of Gambling Studies on his research into the motivations of problem and non-problem gamblers.

Dr Clarke collected data from nearly 150 tertiary students in the Auckland region and found a surprisingly high number fell into the category of problem gamblers. Approximately 17 per cent were in this category, far exceeding the percentage for their age group in the wider community. He says this figure may be influenced by the availability and accessibility of gambling activities in Auckland.

He found the problem gamblers in his sample group were likely to be depressed and impulsive. They gambled for tension release and excitement and also thought that their parents gambled too much. They wanted to feel important but were unsure of what they got out of their gambling.

Dr Clark says it's widely assumed that winning money is the most important factor for motivating a person to continue gambling. But for the problem gamblers in the sample, seeking release from tension predominated.

Like most addictions, indulging in a pleasurable activity provides temporary relief which in turn reinforces the behaviour. The initial sense of excitement and accomplishment at learning about a game, might be diminished by the boring repetitiveness of the activity, feeling of futility about gambling, and mounting personal problems and reinforcements of tension release.

Playing on poker machines was the most favoured activity of the group classified as gamblers in the student sample group.

Dr Clarke suggested interventions for problem gamblers, including:
- Learning relaxation techniques to reduce tension.
- Meetings, exercises and other actions to raise awareness of things associated with gambling.
- Getting involved in different sensation-enhancing activities such as sports.
- Cognitive therapies to control self-defeating thoughts, behaviours and depression.