Problem gambling

Three-quarters of adult Canadians spent money on some form of gambling in 2002, and the majority did so without problems. However, just over one in 20 were, or had the potential to become, problem gamblers, according to a new study.

Using the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 1.2 on Mental Health and Well-being, the study estimates that 1.2 million adult Canadians were at risk of experiencing a problem with gambling, or were problem gamblers.

Of these, an estimated 700,000 were at low risk, another 370,000 at moderate risk, and 120,000 were already problem gamblers. That is, they had suffered adverse effects from their gambling behaviour, such as financial or social problems, anxiety or depression, or dependence on alcohol.

These 1.2 million individuals represented 5% of the total adult population, and 6% of all gamblers.

According to the study, those most likely to be in the at-risk or problem categories were men, Aboriginal persons, those with less education, individuals who played video lottery terminals (VLTs), and people who gambled frequently.

Gambling continues to expand. In 2002, an estimated 18.9 million adult Canadians wagered $11.3 billion on everything from VLTs, lottery tickets and bingos to blackjack and slot machines in casinos. This amount was more than a four-fold increase from $2.7 billion a decade earlier.

The surge in the gambling industry began during the 1990s when provincial governments began legalizing permanent casinos and VLTs. In 2002, 76% of Canadians reported that they had spent money gambling in the previous year, 4 in 10 on a weekly basis.

One of four people whose gambling included VLTs were at-risk or problem gamblers, confirming the much-reported notion that VLTs are the "crack cocaine" of gambling. Those who bought only lottery tickets had the lowest chance of becoming problem gamblers.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan had considerably higher proportions of at-risk gamblers than other provinces. This may be because they have the highest VLT participation rates in the country, above-average Aboriginal populations, and, along with Ontario, the highest attendance rates at casinos.

Constant gambling and excessive spending can take its toll in many facets of life, particularly personal and family finances, as well as an individual's health.

Half of all problem gamblers reported that their gambling caused difficulties in relationships with family or friends. Four in 10 obsessive gamblers (42%) reported a high level of stress in their life, compared with 23% of gamblers who reported no problems.

About 18% of problem gamblers reported that they had contemplated suicide in the year prior to the survey, six times the proportion (3%) of non-problem gamblers.

The insidiousness of excess gambling is revealed by the 27% of moderate-risk gamblers and 64% of problem gamblers who wanted to stop gambling in the year prior to the survey, but believed they could not. About 56% of problem gamblers had tried to quit, but couldn't.

Frequent gambling quickly lightens the wallet. About 62% of problem gamblers spent more than $1,000 a year on gambling, compared with only 4% of people who gambled with no problem.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 5015.

The article "Fighting the odds" is available in the December 2003 online edition of Perspectives on Labour and Income, Vol. 4, no. 12 (75-001-XIE, $6/$52).

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Katherine Marshall (613-951-6890; katherine.marshall@statcan.ca), Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division.

• PACT Facts - Addiction
• National Casino Research