Problem Gambling Unchanged in UK

[ECB]

Problem gambling unchanged, says study

Gambling and problem gambling in the UK have not increased since 1999, according to an authoritative study published on Wednesday by the industry regulator.

The surprise findings countered the prevailing view among academics and politicians that wider access to gambling in recent years, notably online gambling, would result in a marked rise in problem gambling.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/af84a48a-6...0779fd2ac.html

[schwza]

wow, that's awesome. should be useful for us politically (maybe more importantly, it didn't turn out to be a disaster).

it also makes me feel a little better about playing poker for a living. i realize that i am taking money from degenerate gamblers sometimes, but this study makes me feel like if online gambling weren't there they would largely be gambling in unhealthy ways in some other fashion.

[Robin Foolz]

government commissioned study comprised of academics seems to be solid ammo for our cause. and that it was conducted in an already regulated environment is very telling.

[Legislurker]

I have a few early questions before i set about reading the whole thing.

Was the sample size all adults?
How did they select the sample? How careful were they to go GP and not just gamblers, or people who may be less likely to gamble?
Is their a rational basis for designating someone a problem gambler? We do need a good definition for that.

[Robin Foolz]

legis

there is no link to the study in this article.

[strategery]

Link to the study

[Legislurker]

Some staggering numbers. only 6% of the adult population had gambled online. A lot smaller than I had thought, considering its legal and adverts all over the place.

Oh anyone have a link to the DSM-IV-J questions? Ive tried a few googles and Im getting studies, not the actual questions.

[Robin Foolz]

[ QUOTE ]


Oh anyone have a link to the DSM-IV-J questions? Ive tried a few googles and Im getting studies, not the actual questions.

[/ QUOTE ]

it's in page 26/34. section 8.9.1

linky

[Legislurker]

Yeah I got down to them. They are right, there is no good methodology for a survey to determine problem gambling. The actual cost of doing a survey that was thourough would be staggering. Some of the questions/statements indicate huge problems while others are minor issues and not indicative of a pathology at all. I hate it when Tom Cruise is right about anything, but atleast it's just psychology.

[Robin Foolz]

that's the way it's going to be for all studies that deal with gambling using psychological methodologies. the psychology field is essentially run by subjective opinion. they're all going to be different.