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.