CALIFORNIA PROBLEM GAMBLING
STUDY RELEASED
But the research appears to focus on
land gambling, the sample is not quantified and the researchers
are not identified
The California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs released
a study on the prevalence of problem gambling "in the nation"
this week, but did not identify which company conducted the research,
how big a sample it covered or whether it was confined solely to
land gambling.
The department's Office of Problem Gambling (OPG) said that the
study had revealed that between 750 000 and 1.2 million California
adults are considered pathological or problem gamblers.
"The legislation that created the Office of Problem Gambling
focused resources on prevention and research," said Steve Hedrick,
director of OPG. "Now with this prevalence study we'll be able
to develop more effective prevention strategies and better understand
how to help people with gambling problems."
Key findings included:
The prevalence of problem and pathological gambling is particularly
high among men, people with disabilities and unemployed individuals.
Between 296 500 and 490 000 adults in California are classified
as lifetime pathological gamblers.
Between 450 000 and 713 400 others experience significant problems
but do not meet the established criteria for pathological gamblers.
The majority of adults in California (83 percent) have gambled some
time in their lives.
Playing the lottery is the favourite gambling activity for Californians
in the past year. Casinos are the preferred place to gamble. Card
rooms and internet gaming account for the greatest personal losses,
but these are not adequately explained.
The multi-lingual telephone survey was conducted between 2005 and
2006 and included California residents aged 18 and over. Full methodology
and the identity of the organisation which conducted the study was
not disclosed in the public statement announcing he study's findings.
The study is available online at: http://www.problemgambling.ca.gov/.
__________________
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how
close they were to success when they gave up"
