A NEW report has shed some light on the effects problem gamblers have on their children, revealing children of a father with a gambling problem were 13.5 times more likely to develop gambling problems.The findings were recently released in the report Children at Risk of Developing Problem Gambling and found that problem gamblers affect the entire family unit. The report noted there is “now an accumulation of evidence that problem gambling does not only affect the individual with the gambling problem, but also results in a high degree of societal and familial harm. “It has been argued the gambling problem of one individual has direct negative effects on many others, including family members and co-workers.“International evidence suggests problem gambling significantly disrupts dyadic relationships and family environments, and adversely affects the emotional and physical health of partners and children.”The report noted a literature review summarised the most common problems reported by the family members of problem gamblers: “the loss of household or personal money; arguments, anger and violence, lies and deception, neglect of family, negatively affected relationships, poor communication, confusion of family roles and responsibilities and the development of gambling problems or other addictions within the family.”The report found the children of a father with a gambling problem were 13.5 times more likely to develop a gambling problem than their peers and for a mother with a gambling problem the children were 10.6 times more likely.Bendigo Baptist Community Care director Matthew Parkinson said a similar report had been produced in 2004 and that the community needed to be aware of the far reaching affects of problem gambling.“We know it means increased crime rates and we know that it has a massive affect on the family,” he said.“There’s a direct baring on children’s levels of asthma and stress levels.”