Is gambling screening feasible in consumer credit counselling?

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Author(s): Sacco, Paul ; Frey, Jodi Jacobson ; Callahan, Christine ; Hochheimer, Martin ; Imboden, Rachel ; Hyde, Devon

Journal: Journal of Gambling Studies

Year Published: 2019

Date Added: October 11, 2019

The current study found that one in five callers to a national credit counselling agency reported gambling. Those who gambled reported higher rates of gambling problems than the general U.S. population. The findings support the idea that screening for gambling problems in credit counselling may help identify people at risk of gambling disorder. Credit counsellors and program administrators also saw the benefit of brief screening for gambling problems within their intake and counselling sessions.

Citation: Sacco, P., Frey, J. J., Callahan, C., Hochheimer, M., Imboden, R., & Hyde, D. (2019). Feasibility of brief screening for at-risk gambling in consumer credit counseling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 35(4), 1423-1439. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-019-09836-1

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-019-09836-1

Keywords: at-risk ; brief screens ; credit ; debt ; financial counselling ; gambling disorder

Topics: Information for Treatment Providers

Conceptual Framework Factors: Psychological Factors ; Psychological - Lifespan Development ; Gambling Resources ; Resources - Interventions

Study Design: Mixed Methods

Geographic Coverage: United States of America, Maryland

Study Population: Sample 1: Callers (N=2,438) to a consumer credit counseling agency in the United States. Sample 2: Credit counsellors (n=8) and credit counselling administrators (n=3)

Sampling Procedure: All callers to a consumer credit counselling agency between March 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018 were screened for at-risk gambling as part of the intake phone call. Credit counsellors and credit counselling administrators were from the same agency.

Study Funding:

This study was funded by a Seed Grant from the National Council on Responsible Gaming awarded in 2017.