A new University of Iowa study has found that expansion of gambling venues in the state has not led to higher rates of "problematic gambling behavior," and the percentage of people who don't gamble has risen 11 percent to 83 percent compared with the research findings in 1995.
The study published last month in "Annals of Clinical Psychiatry" is good news for communities and families concerned about expansion of gambling venues in creating more pathological gambling among residents. And, it also may be a sobering finding for casino operators and state and local governments hoping for an ever expanding pool of gamblers and gambling tax revenues in the casino markets.
A pathological gambler is defined as a person unable to resist impulses to gamble, which can lead to severe personal or social consequences.
Conclusions of the study, which involved random telephone surveys of 356 people were:
- Recent gambling participation was less than in 1995, despite the continued expansion of gaming opportunities.
- Disordered gambling was associated with younger age, lower income and minority group status.
- The results are consistent with Shaffer's "adaptation" hypothesis, which posits that following an initial increase in gambling participation, problematic gambling stabilizes at a lower level.
CLICK HERE for additional study information on e! Science News.
CLICK HERE for the study abstract on American Academy Clinical Psychiatrists web site.
