1. Mr. Don Feeney What the Public Thinks (and Why It Matters)

2. What the Public Thinks About Problem Gambling (and Why It Matters) Don Feeney Research and Planning Director Minnesota State Lottery 3. What do we need to know? How does the public perceive addiction? Do they stigmatize addiction? Do they recognize gambling addiction? Do they understand the causes? Do they understand the solutions? Do they know where to go for help? Do they know preventative factors? What are they willing to do? What messages are credible and appealing? 4. Data Sources Ipsos Reid US Express Omnibus Survey + U.S adults Internet sample June 25-30, 2009, September 2011, June 2012, May 2013 Ipsos Reid Survey Telephone sample 1000 U.S. adults June, 2008 Minnesota gambling surveys 2000+ Minnesota adults Telephone sample Taken 2003 through 2010 Taken by St. Cloud State University Minnesota interviews/focus groups Fall, 2011 5. DOES THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND ADDICTION? 6. Compulsive gambling is an addiction just like addiction to drugs or alcohol Neutral15%Disagree13%Agree72%0%20%40%60%Source: Ipsos 9/11 survey of 1009 US adults80% 7. What are the signs of a gambling problem? Unexplained absences Talks about gambling Borrows money Neglects family Spends all they have Emotional difficulties Preoccupation Gambles all the time Financial troubles 0%20% 40% % of Ontario adults60%Source: Turner et al (2005) 8. What percentage of Minnesota adults have a gambling addiction? 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%31% 21%18% 14%13%4%1% or less2%-5%6%-10%11%-20% More than 20%on't know D Source: SCSU 4/04 9. IS ADDICTION STIGMATIZED? 10. Would you feel ashamed or embarrassed if a family member had Used a wheelchair 2% 4% 6% Mental Illness 4%12%7 5 or 616%Alcohol addiction17%27%Gambling addiction16%29%Drug addiction24%Sex addiction25%44% 45%27% 29%0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% % of adults answering 5, 6, or 7 on a 1 (not ashamed) to 7 (extremely ashamed) scale51% 54% 60%Source: 2009 Voice of America Survey 11. More likely to develop gambling addiction Men55%Women34%High School29%Seniors28%Poor45%MinoritiesPeople like me34%12% Source: 2009 Voices of America Survey 12. Less likely to develop gambling addiction Men5%Women16%High School26%Seniors Poor MinoritiesPeople like me25% 8% 12%43% Source: 2009 Voices of America Survey 13. DO THEY UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES? 14. Would you say that addiction to gambling is primarily ? 47%32%15% 6%A personal or moral weaknessA medical problemBothSource: IPSOS 9/11Something else 15. How likely is this to cause a gambling addiction? Percent saying very likely or somewhat likely81%Having an addictive personality Not having enough willpower73%Being around people who gamble a lot73%Parent or family member who gambles72% 51%Moral weakness Traumatic event in someone's life Person's genetics or other medical problem42% 38%Source: Ipsos US Express Omnibus, May 2013 16. Controlling compulsive gambling is mostly a matter of willpower 55%AgreeDisagree23%Neutral21%0%10%20%30%Source: Ipsos-Reid 201240%50%60% 17. DO THEY UNDERSTAND THE SOLUTIONS? 18. How successful is this as a solution to a gambling addiction? Percent saying very successful or somewhat81% 79% 79% 75% 68%Participation in Gambler's AnonymousCounseling with someone in recovery Support from familyTreatment by a trained professional Abstinence from gambling55% 46% 44% 43%Limiting their access to money Counseling with a religious leader Education about gambling, such as Talking to a financial counselor Medication32%Source: Ipsos US Express Omnibus, May 2013 19. The majority of people who receive treatment for compulsive gambling achieve life-long recovery Agree31%Disagree29%Neutral40%0% 10% 20% Source: Ipsos Reid 201230%40%50% 20. When you hear the word recovery, as in this person is in recovery from a gambling addiction, what does it mean to you? Don't know4%Trying to stopHas gambling under controlNo longer gambles54%23%19% Source: Ipsos-Reid 2012 21. DO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO? 22. If a friend or family member approached me with a gambling problem, I am confident I would know where to get them help Agree37%43%DisagreeNeutral20%Source: Ipsos 2011 23. What would you do? Refer to GA Urge self-control Call help line Talk to them Clergy Physician Gambling program Internet Nothing Friend or relative Mental health clinic Other Intervention Don't knowSource: SCSU 2/0624% 22% 19% 10% 9% 8% 5% 5% 5% 4% 3% 3% 1%13% 24. Services to treat compulsive gambling are available in my community Agree42%Disagree26%Neutral32%Source: Ipsos Reid 2012 25. Services to treat compulsive gambling are available in my community 55%Agree35% Gamblers Non-gamblers11%Disagree20% 34%Don't know45% 0%10%Source: SCSU 2/0920%30%40%50%60% 26. Who would you turn to if you or a friend had a gambling problem? Parent68%Internet22%Teacher21%School counselor17%Help line17%Friends11%Other4% 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%Source: 4/08 MN DHS survey of 121 10th graders 27. Qualitative Research Findings Interviews Focus Groups 28. What should we call it? Compulsive gambling Gambling addiction Weak willed gambling Treatable addiction Problem gambling Moral weakness Lifestyle choice 29. What terms describe the condition? Compulsive gambling Gambling addiction Weak willed gambling Treatable addiction Problem gambling Moral weakness Lifestyle choice 30. What is the best term? Compulsive gambling Gambling addiction Weak willed gambling Treatable addiction Problem gambling Moral weakness Lifestyle choice 31. Compulsive gambling is not serious, and its a lifestyle choice. Its like going to the bar and enjoying pulltabs and beers several times a week. It becomes a problem when the player has to hit the ATM too often. 32. Consensus opinion Starts as a lifestyle choice Becomes uncontrollable due to financial losses or pleasure of win Ultimately becomes an addiction This addiction is treatable 33. Key Findings Opinions are poorly formed and weakly held (mostly) Problem gambling is accepted as a serious issue But it is often seen as a moral weakness It is commonly stigmatized It happens to other people The public is skeptical about treatment effectiveness 34. Key messages Problem gambling can affect anyone, regardless of age or social/ethnic class Problem gambling is not a moral weakness. It is a medical condition. Problem gambling is preventable Treatment is available 35. Key messages 1.2.3.4.Gambling addiction is a serious problem with serious consequences. Thousands of people suffer from this addiction, which can lead to devastating financial problems, neglect of family and work, criminal activity, and even suicide. Many more suffer as the result of the gambling of a loved one. Problem gambling is a treatable condition, and services are available in your community. While recovery takes time, patience, and support, people suffering from this condition are able to reclaim their lives. Problem gamblers are young, old, male, female, rich, poor and come from every ethnic background. They are not simply morally weak, and are not bad people. They are good people with a bad problem. Breaking the cycle of gambling addiction is critical to a healthy society. It is far less costly for society to treat gambling addictions than to deal with the consequences of leaving the addiction untreated. 36. Key messages 1.2.3.4.Gambling addiction is a serious problem with serious consequences. Thousands of people suffer from this addiction, which can lead to devastating financial problems, neglect of family and work, criminal activity, and even suicide. Many more suffer as the result of the gambling of a loved one. Problem gambling is a treatable condition, and services are available in your community. While recovery takes time, patience, and support, people suffering from this condition are able to reclaim their lives. Problem gamblers are young, old, male, female, rich, poor and come from every ethnic background. They are not simply morally weak, and are not bad people. They are good people with a bad problem. Breaking the cycle of gambling addiction is critical to a healthy society. It is far less costly for society to treat gambling addictions than to deal with the consequences of leaving the addiction untreated. 37. Thank you! donf@mnlottery.com 38. Session Evaluation 39. 1. The information presented was useful to me a. b. c. d. e.Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree 40. 2. The information presented was clear and organized a. b. c. d. e.Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree 41. 3. I would recommend this session to a friend/colleague a. b. c. d. e.Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree 42. 4. I learned something new a. b. c. d. e.Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree 43. 5. The presenter(s) was/were engaging a. b. c. d. e.Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree 44. 6. Please rate this session overall a. b. c. d. e.Very good Good Average Poor Very poor