The behavior similarities are striking.

"The lies you tell to maintain the addiction. The havoc it creates on families, work environments; the lying, stealing, anything to support it. It becomes god, paramount, and you have to do it," Kalm says.

Also like other addictions, kicking it can be brutally hard. Gambling also comes with "triggers," certain situations or locations. And the other commonality, Kalm says, is the tendency to think that "just a little bit" won't hurt. " 'One sip of this wine won't hurt me.' And they're gone. Passing through the airport in Las Vegas, 'Playing one quarter won't matter.' And they're gone."

The national studies estimate the percentage of American adults who have been pathological gamblers sometime in their lives is between 1.2 percent (in the NORC study) and 1.6 percent (in the Harvard study). They say those who were pathological gamblers during the year the studies was conducted ranged between 0.6 percent (NORC) and 1.14 percent (Harvard).

They estimate the additional percentage of Americans who have been less-serious "problem" gamblers sometime in their lifetimes between 1.5 percent (NORC) and 3.9 percent (NRC). Those with such problems in the "last year" range between 0.7 percent (NORC) and 2.8 percent (Harvard).

Utah's adult population is about 1.6 million. So, if Utahns are like average Americans, the studies suggest that up to 25,600 Utahns are or have been pathological gamblers. As many as another 62,400 have been less-serious problem gamblers.

If the national studies serve as a guide, as many as 88,000 Utahns, or as few as 20,800, have serious gambling problems. Of note, the studies say problem gambling tends to increase as gambling opportunities are more easily available.

Studies about some nearby states — where legalized gambling is more readily available — say problem gambling rates there are sometimes higher and sometimes lower than national averages.

A 2001 study for Nevada, which legalizes most forms of gambling, says 6.4 percent of its adults are "current" pathological or problem gamblers, a figure higher than the 1.3 percent to 5.5 percent average nationally.

A 1997 study for Colorado, which has a state lottery, pari-mutuel betting and limited casinos, indicated 4.4 percent of adults there are "lifetime" pathological or problem gamblers, and 2.5 percent are "current" problem or pathological gamblers.

A 2003 study for Arizona, which has a state lottery, pari-mutuel race betting and Indian casinos, showed 2.3 percent of its adults are "current" pathological or problem gamblers.

Addiction's effects