Crossing the line: When gamblers turn to crime

Abstract

Reviews the book, "Crossing the line: When gamblers turn to crime" by Hale Humphrey-Jones and Melvin A. Slawik (2008). This book is a fascinating, case-study-based account of the varied ways in which pathological gamblers cross the line into criminal behavior. It is important to note that this book is not intended as a scientific account of the issue. Rather, it is a guide to counselors, teachers, and students who are interested in the broad scope of criminal involvement in pathological gambling. In addition, the book has many of the qualities of a self-help guide for problem gamblers who wish to avoid turning to crime and for families dealing with the aftermath of the disorder. This short book is organized into five main parts: (I) Phases and stages, (II) Why can't I control this, (III) The addictive brain, (IV) The criminal mind, and (V) Treatment. Each section contains between three and seven case descriptions. The book also includes brief descriptions of various interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, gambling court, pastoral counseling, and Gamblers Anonymous. The one criticism I have pertains to the formatting of this book–the introduction for each case is usually positioned in the final paragraphs of the prior chapter, rather than as the introduction to the next case. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)