Gambling Behavior Among a Sample of Adolescents and

Adults in Alberta

David Casey, Ph.D.University of Calgary

AGRI Conference 2007

Investigators Involved in the Leisure, Lifestyle, Lifecycle Project

Nady el-Guebaly, MD David Hodgins, Ph.D. Garry Smith, Ph.D. Rob Williams, Ph.D. Don Schopflocher, Ph.D. Rob Wood, Ph.D. 1: Professor and Head, Addiction Psychiatry, University of Calgary. 2: Professor, University of Calgary 3: Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta 4: Professor, University of Lethbridge 5: Adjunct Associate Professor Epidemiology, University of Alberta 6: Associate Professor, University of Lethbridge Funding for this Project is from the Alberta Gaming Research Institute

Outline

Background information Design of the study Some preliminary results from the study What did we learn from the study Plans for future data collection

Background

Background

Gambling in Alberta 82% of adults gambled in previous year

Few studies of determinants of gambling & disordered gambling

Interested in better understanding: Factors that promote responsible gambling Factors that make some susceptible to problem gambling

Longitudinal study most optimal methodology for this investigation Examples

Barnes, 1999 Slutske, 2003 Vitaro, 1996 Winters, 1993 & 2002

Background (cont’d)

A prospective, multi cohort longitudinal study of gambling behavior Study Albertans over a 5-year period Testing a biopsychosocial model of gambling Data collection has been completed for Time 1 3 additional follow up interviews over the next 4 years Initial sample

Stratified by region of the province 5 age groups Divided into at-risk gamblers & general population

Biopsychosocial Model for Gambling

Methods

Methods – ParticipantsTime #1 1808 Participants

524, 100%897, 70%

387, 30%

General Population At-Risk Population

897, 50%

911, 50%

At-Risk Pop.

Non At-Risk Pop.

All Non-At-Risk Pop.

At-Risk

All At-Risk Pop.387 +524

Methods - Procedures

Recruited through Random Digit Dialing (RDD) at 4 locations: Calgary Edmonton Grande Prairie (and surrounding communities) Lethbridge (and surrounding communities)

Start and end for data collection was staggered between sites Start: Feb 8, 2006 to Mar 20, 2006 End: Aug 26, 2006 to Oct 21, 2006

Some of the at-risk were recruited using other techniques – will discuss later

Methods - Procedures

For all participants who met the criteria for age, residence, etc., there was: Telephone interview

Subcontracted the completion of these interviews Adult interviews (~ 45 minutes) Adolescent interviews (~ 30 minutes) Majority of demographic & gambling questions

Face-to-face interview Completed by Research Assistants Adult interviews (~ 3 hrs) Adolescent interviews (~ 2 hrs) Parent interviews (~ 40 minutes)

Methods - Procedures

Based on expenditure and frequency Based on cohort screener questions Cutoffs for the 70th percentile For each of the age cohorts and gender

Ages 18-20, 23-25, 43-45, and 63-65: Spending GREATER than $10.00 in a typical

month OR Gambling at least a couple of times a month

Ages 13-15: Spending GREATER than $0.00 in a typical

month Gambling at least less than once a month

Methods - Measures

Demographic questions Age, gender, education, etc.

Multiple areas of gambling were assessed: 1. Gambling Behavior: Canadian Problem

Gambling Index (CPGI) Frequency of gambling Amount of gambling Type of gambling

2. Attitudes Toward Gambling Questionnaire Canada West Foundation Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission 3 Questions developed by Rob Williams

ResultsDemographics: All Non-At-Risk versus At-Risk

Age of Participants

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

13-15 18-20 23-25 43-45 63-65

Age of Participant

Per

cent

age

All Non At-Risk Pop.All At-Risk PopTotal Pop.

Gender of Adult Participants

50%56%

38%

50%44%

62%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

All Non At-Risk All At-Risk Total

Population Comparison

Pe

rce

nt

Male Female

Gender of Adolescent Participants

47%

60.5%54%53%

39.5%46%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

All Non At-Risk All At-Risk Total

Population Comparison

Pe

rce

nt

Male Female

Location of Participants

5

15

25

35

45

Calgary Edmonton GrandPrairie

Lethbridge

Location of Participant

Per

cent

age

All Non At-Risk Pop.All At-Risk Pop.Total Pop.

Education Level of Adult Participants

0

5

10

15

20

25

Education

Per

cen

tag

e

All NonAt-RiskPop.

All At-Risk

TotalPop.

Current Employment Status of Adult Participants

15

25

35

45

55

No Job EmployedP.T

EmployedF.T Job Status

Per

cen

tag

e

All NonAt-RiskPop.

All At-Risk

TotalPop.

ResultsGambling Questions:

Frequency, Amount, & Attitudes

Spent Money on Gambling Activities: Past Year for Adults

0

25

50

Lotto

Tick

ets

Raffle

Insta

nt W

inVLT

Privat

e/ S

ocial

Gam

es

Sport

Bets

Bingo

Casino

Horse

Rac

e

High R

isk S

tock

Out o

f Pro

vince

Money Spent on Gambling Activities

All NonAt-RiskPop.

All At-RiskPop

TotalPop.

Spent Money on Gambling Activities: Past Year for Adolescents

0

10

20

30

40

Gambling Activities

Per

cent

age

All NonAt-RiskPop.

All At-RiskPop

TotalPop.

Frequency of Gambling: Adults

0

5

10

15

20

25

Never 1-10 11-50 51-100 101-500

501-1000

> 1000 Frequency of Gambling

All NonAt-RiskPop.

All At-RiskPop

TotalPop.

Frequency of Gambling: A Typical Month for Adults (Screener)

0

25

50

75

Frequency

All NonAt-RiskPop.

All At-RiskPop

TotalPop.

Frequency of Gambling: A Typical Month for Adolescents (Screener)

05

10152025303540

Never <

1

1/ M

onth

Couple

s tim

es/ M

onth

1/W

eek

Few tim

es/ W

eek

Sever

al Tim

es/ W

eek

Almos

t Dai

lyDail

y

Frequency

All NonAt-RiskPop.

All At-RiskPop

TotalPop.

Risk Assessment for Gambling Problem: Adults

0.1%2%

9%

50%

38%

3%

11%

25%

56%

6% 6%

1%

53%

23%

17%

0

25

50

NoGambling

Non-ProblemGamber

Low Risk ModerateRisk

ProblemGambler

Level of Gambling Risk

All NonAt-RiskPop.

All At-RiskPop.

TotalPop.

Largest Amount Lost in Single Year: Adults

$274.10

$ 410.40

$126.50100

200

300

400

All Non At-Risk All At-Risk Total

Amount Lost

Am

ou

nt

in $

Gambling Attitude Questionnaire: Adults

**** *

*

2

3

4

5

6

7

Gambling Attitude Questions

Raw

Sco

re

All NonAt-RiskPop.

All At-RiskPop

TotalPop.

Gambling Attitude Questionnaire: Adolescents

** *

2

3

4

5

6

Raise

$

Check

with

Pub

lic

Adequ

ate

Servic

e

Lim

it Neg

. Sid

e Effe

ct

Video

Lot

to B

an

Regar

dles

s of C

onse

q.

O.k.

Acti

vity

Illega

l but

ava

ilabl

e

Probl

ems

have

Incr

ease

d

> Crim

e

Gambling Attitude Questions

Raw

Sco

re

All Non At-Risk Pop.All At-RiskPopTotal Pop.

What did we Learn?

and Plans for Future Direction

What did We Learn?

Difficult to recruit using Random Digit Dialing Call display Blocking Do not call lists Saturation of the market Time of year

Interviews occurred in July & August More difficult to get a hold of people & to participate

What did We Learn? (cont’d)

Difficult to recruit at-risk or high-risk gamblers More difficult than expected Tried using supplemental recruitment techniques:

Media release Posters in gambling establishments Ads in local papers A “snowball” e-mail Only provided us with additional 30 participants

What did We Learn? (cont’d)

Telephone to face-to-face interview retention: Lost more between the telephone interview &

face-to-face than was anticipated Some did not feel $75 was enough incentive Booming economy

More difficult to get participants

Face-to-face interviews Participants enjoyed the personal interaction with

Research Assistants

Plans for Future Data Collection

3 more data collection Spread over the next 4 years Currently in the process of organizing for Time 2 Data collection for Time 2 will begin in Sept., 2007 Gambling behavior will be tracked over these 4 years Constructs associated with biological, psychological,

and social factors Last 3 data collections, participants will complete the

surveys using a web-based system Genetic study

Have received funding Examine the relationship between pathological

gambling and genetic markers

Thanks

Questions?

David Casey, Ph.D.University of Calgary

dcasey@ucalgary.ca