Predicting the risk of gambling problems over a five-year period using low-risk gambling limits

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Author(s): Currie, Shawn R. ; Hodgins, David C. ; Williams, Robert J. ; Fiest, Kirsten

Journal: BMC Psychiatry

Year Published: 2021

Date Added: April 26, 2021

In a previous study, the researchers developed a set of low-risk gambling limits for the Canadian population. The low-risk gambling limits included: (1) gambling less than eight times per month; (2) spending less than $75 CAD per month; and (3) spending less than 1.7% of household income on gambling. In this study, they assessed the risks of experiencing moderate level of harm and developing problem gambling within the next five years if people exceeded the gambling limits. The results supported that exceeding the gambling limits increased the risks of moderate harm and problem gambling. Other factors that increased the risks included having a mental illness, stressful life events, false gambling beliefs, and playing electronic gaming machines or casino table games.

Citation: Currie, S. R., Hodgins, D. C., Williams, R. J., & Fiest, K. (2021). Predicting future harm from gambling over a five-year period in a general population sample: A survival analysis. BMC Psychiatry, 21, 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-03016-x

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-03016-x

Keywords: comorbidities ; gambling expenditures ; gambling frequency ; Leisure, Lifestyle, Lifecycle Project (LLLP) ; longitudinal studies ; low-risk gambling ; problem gambling ; Quinte Longitudinal Study (QLS) ; risk factors

Topics: Comorbidities ; Cultural Factors ; Gambling and the Brain

Conceptual Framework Factors: Gambling Types ; Environment - Responsible Gambling ; Psychological Factors ; Cultural Factors ; Resources - Harm Reduction, Prevention, and Protection ; Environment - Low-Risk Limits ; Gambling Environment ; Cultural - Religion and Other Belief Systems ; Gambling Resources ; Resources - Interventions

Study Design: Observational: Cohort

Geographic Coverage: Canada, Alberta ; Canada, Ontario

Study Population: Adults who reported gambling in the past year and did not have problem gambling at time 1 (N = 4212; n = 780 from the LLLP and n = 3432 from the QLS)

Sampling Procedure: The researchers used data from the Leisure, Lifestyle, and Lifecycle Project (LLLP) in Alberta and the Quinte Longitudinal Study (QLS) in Ontario. Both studies used random digit dialing to recruit participants.

Study Funding:

Data collection for this research was funded by the Alberta Gambling Research Institute (AGRI) and the Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (GREO).