Laurie Bell
The story of Frank Roberts is a fictional one but it echoes many others in recent years:
It’s the second month in a row that Frank Roberts has missed the mortgage payment. Rather than putting his paycheque in the bank, as he had promised himself and his spouse, he tried to win back his previous month’s losses at the local casino.
He’s also worried about his colleagues at work, from whom he has already borrowed $2,000.
Frank is in a tight spot. He’s thinking that the only way out of the situation is to win big – and for that he needs to hit up someone for cash. It can’t be people he knows at work. But if he goes to someone outside that circle of friends, there’s a good chance that his spouse will find out.
Deep down inside, Frank thinks he may have a gambling problem but he’s unsure of just what he can do about it.
A popular activity
Gambling is a very common activity today, with approximately five of six Ontario adults (83 per cent) having gambled in some fashion in the previous year. The most popular gambling activities include lotteries, raffle tickets, scratch tickets and slot machines at local casinos.
Many adults also bet on the outcome of a sporting event or while playing card games with friends. Even bingo and speculative investments can be considered a form of gambling, not to mention the recent phenomenon of Internet gambling, which is on the rise.
Statistics show that approximately 3.5 per cent of all adults aged 18 and up within the province of Ontario are experiencing gambling problems. That works out to roughly 340,000 people.
Social behaviour
Recent studies have shown that many people gamble for social reasons. They like being with friends or family and they like the entertainment value provided through gambling activities. There’s no denying the fact that gambling can be exciting and fun for some. But it can also be risky and addictive.
Increased debt is one of the most commonly reported gambling problems. Studies show that as the severity of gambling problems increase, so too does the likelihood of experiencing relationship problems, loneliness or increased isolation. Severe problem gamblers are also the most likely to report committing a crime to support their gambling habits. In some cases, moderate to severe problem gamblers also find themselves under a doctor’s care for emotional or physical problems due to stress. Of the one in four who find themselves under a doctor’s care, one in 16 will have considered suicide.
The most common type of gambling reported by those individuals experiencing severe gambling problems is casino table gambling. The age group of those who partake in this activity is across the board, but 13.6 per cent of the total accounts for individuals aged 35 and up. Almost a quarter have completed some post-secondary education or have gone on to complete a post-graduate degree and over 17 per cent report a household income of $60,000 and up.
Laurie Bell is the Director of Prevention Programs for the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). She may be reached directly at (416) 499-9800, ext. 225 or at laurieb@rgco.org.
The RGCO is helping to raise awareness of gambling and preventative gambling measures. More information can be found on the RGCO Web site at www.rgco.org.
Checklist on potential addiction
