Sunday, October 08, 2006

The rate of problem gambling in Surrey and Langley rose in 2005 after the
arrival of casino gaming here. That's among the first-year findings of a
multi-year study conducted for the provincial government into the
socio-economic impacts of casinos in the Lower Mainland. It's tracing the
effects on residents of the spring 2005 opening of Langley Cascades casino
and slot machines at Fraser Downs racetrack in Surrey, plus two facilities
in Vancouver. Researchers surveyed residents at random as well as casino
patrons. They determined the percentage of problem gamblers in Langley
climbed from 2.5 per cent in 2004 to 4.9 last year. The rate climbed from
5.6 to six per cent in Surrey, but fell in Langley Township from four per
cent to 2.6 in 2005. The firm behind the study, Blue Thorn Research and
Analysis Group, concluded the change is not statistically significant. "The
venues appear to have produced new gamblers," the report found. "Some people
are now gambling at the venues that previously did not gamble. It is
possible that some of these new gamblers may develop problems." Researchers
interviewed nine counsellors who work with problem gamblers. Obvious impacts
were limited because the facilities are new, the counsellors said, adding
their clients "were in trouble well before these facilities opened." The
report said the counsellors believe the casino in Langley may have led to an
increase in the number of mental health clients there, because of the
casino's
proximity to low-income housing and residents there without ready
transportation. The counsellors suggested the addition of gambling sites
creates "enormous temptations" for problem gamblers, and convenience and
visibility increases the risk of relapse.

Overall, the report concludes that based on the first year's findings the
casinos have had a relatively small impact on gambling behaviour.

In 2004, about 76 per cent of Langley City residents surveyed said they
never played slot machines. That fell to 60 per cent in 2005 after the
casino opened (versus 64 per cent for Langley township.)

About 40 per cent of Langley City residents surveyed said they gambled at
the casino, versus 30 per cent of Langley Township residents.

In contrast, 74 per cent of Surrey residents surveyed said they didn't play
slot machines in 2005 - up slightly from 73.7 per cent in 2004 prior to the
installation of Fraser Downs slots.

Surrey residents who do gamble at slot machines don't automatically go to
Fraser Downs. It was fourth on the list of where they play slots, behind Las
Vegas/Reno, River Rock in Richmond and Cascades in Langley.

A total of 11 per cent of those surveyed in Surrey said they did gamble at
Fraser Downs in 2005 and spent on average $54 per visit.

Langley City residents spent an average $36 per visit, but more - nearly six
per cent - said they go every day.

Of combined Vancouver-Surrey-Langley residents surveyed, 20 per cent said
they don't gamble.

Sixty-five per cent are rated as non-problem gamblers - classifications
based on survey responses - while 10.5 per cent are "low risk", 3.7 per cent
are "moderate problem gamblers" and 0.7 per cent are "severe problem
gamblers."

The report found there was "no discernible impact" on crime or traffic near
the casinos.