CANADIAN PROBLEM GAMBLING SURVEY PLANNED

18 May 2007

Was British Columbia study initiative spurred by recent reports from provincial casinos?

The provincial government of British Columbia is commissioning a new study on problem gambling, a week after news reports that casino employees often encounter distressed gamblers, and some who are aggressive or threatening at casinos in the region.

CBC News reported that a spokesman announced: "A proposal call has been issued for a contractor to survey the prevalence of problem gambling, to compare it to other jurisdictions and recommend ways to address the problems.

"The last survey of its kind - carried out several years ago - showed 4.6 percent of the British Columbia population could be considered problem gamblers. Since then, legal gambling opportunities in the province have grown, with more places to play slot machines and more lotteries available online...," he said.

The action, coming so soon after a major news story on the plight of problem gamblers and the reaction to them of casino employees (see previous InfoPowa report), begs the question is the survey a consequence of the problem being highlighted by the media?

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