Gambling Behavior Among a Sample of Adolescents and Adults in Alberta

1. Gambling Behavior Among a Sample of Adolescents and Adults in Alberta David Casey, Ph.D. University of Calgary AGRI Conference 2007

2. Investigators Involved in the Leisure, Lifestyle, Lifecycle Project • Nady el-Guebaly, MD • David Hodgins, Ph.D. • Garry Smith, Ph.D. • Rob Williams, Ph.D. • Don Schopflocher, Ph.D. • Rob Wood, Ph.D. • 1: Professor and Head, Addiction Psychiatry, University of Calgary. • 2: Professor, University of Calgary • 3: Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta • 4: Professor, University of Lethbridge • 5: Adjunct Associate Professor Epidemiology, University of Alberta • 6: Associate Professor, University of Lethbridge • Funding for this Project is from the Alberta Gaming Research Institute

3. Outline • Background information • Design of the study • Some preliminary results from the study • What did we learn from the study • Plans for future data collection

4. Background

5. Background • Gambling in Alberta • 82% of adults gambled in previous year • Few studies of determinants of gambling & disordered gambling • Interested in better understanding: • Factors that promote responsible gambling • Factors that make some susceptible to problem gambling • Longitudinal study most optimal methodology for this investigation • Examples • Barnes, 1999 • Slutske, 2003 • Vitaro, 1996 • Winters, 1993 & 2002

6. Background (cont’d) • A prospective, multi cohort longitudinal study of gambling behavior • Study Albertans over a 5-year period • Testing a biopsychosocial model of gambling • Data collection has been completed for Time 1 • 3 additional follow up interviews over the next 4 years • Initial sample • Stratified by region of the province • 5 age groups • Divided into at-risk gamblers & general population

7. Biopsychosocial Model for Gambling

8. Methods

9. Methods – Participants Time #1 1808 Participants General Population At-Risk Population Non At-Risk Pop. At-Risk At-Risk Pop. 387 + 524 All At-Risk Pop. All Non-At-Risk Pop.

10. Methods - Procedures • Recruited through Random Digit Dialing (RDD) at 4 locations: • Calgary • Edmonton • Grande Prairie (and surrounding communities) • Lethbridge (and surrounding communities) • Start and end for data collection was staggered between sites • Start: Feb 8, 2006 to Mar 20, 2006 • End: Aug 26, 2006 to Oct 21, 2006 • Some of the at-risk were recruited using other techniques – will discuss later

11. Methods - Procedures • For all participants who met the criteria for age, residence, etc., there was: • Telephone interview • Subcontracted the completion of these interviews • Adult interviews (~ 45 minutes) • Adolescent interviews (~ 30 minutes) • Majority of demographic & gambling questions • Face-to-face interview • Completed by Research Assistants • Adult interviews (~ 3 hrs) • Adolescent interviews (~ 2 hrs) • Parent interviews (~ 40 minutes)

12. Methods - Procedures • Based on expenditure and frequency • Based on cohort screener questions • Cutoffs for the 70th percentile • For each of the age cohorts and gender • Ages 18-20, 23-25, 43-45, and 63-65: • Spending GREATER than $10.00 in a typical month OR • Gambling at least a couple of times a month • Ages 13-15: • Spending GREATER than $0.00 in a typical month • Gambling at least less than once a month

13. Methods - Measures • Demographic questions • Age, gender, education, etc. • Multiple areas of gambling were assessed: • 1. Gambling Behavior: Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) • Frequency of gambling • Amount of gambling • Type of gambling • 2. Attitudes Toward Gambling Questionnaire • Canada West Foundation • Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission • 3 Questions developed by Rob Williams

14. ResultsDemographics: All Non-At-Risk versus At-Risk

15. Age of Participants

16. Gender of Adult Participants

17. Gender of Adolescent Participants

18. Location of Participants

19. Education Level of Adult Participants

20. Current Employment Status of Adult Participants

21. ResultsGambling Questions: Frequency, Amount, & Attitudes

22. Spent Money on Gambling Activities: Past Year for Adults

23. Spent Money on Gambling Activities: Past Year for Adolescents

24. Frequency of Gambling: Adults

25. Frequency of Gambling: A Typical Month for Adults (Screener)

26. Frequency of Gambling: A Typical Month for Adolescents (Screener)

27. Risk Assessment for Gambling Problem: Adults

28. Largest Amount Lost in Single Year: Adults

29. Gambling Attitude Questionnaire: Adults

30. Gambling Attitude Questionnaire: Adolescents

31. What did we Learn?and Plans for Future Direction

32. What did We Learn? • Difficult to recruit using Random Digit Dialing • Call display • Blocking • Do not call lists • Saturation of the market • Time of year • Interviews occurred in July & August • More difficult to get a hold of people & to participate

33. What did We Learn? (cont’d) • Difficult to recruit at-risk or high-risk gamblers • More difficult than expected • Tried using supplemental recruitment techniques: • Media release • Posters in gambling establishments • Ads in local papers • A “snowball” e-mail • Only provided us with additional 30 participants

34. What did We Learn? (cont’d) • Telephone to face-to-face interview retention: • Lost more between the telephone interview & face-to-face than was anticipated • Some did not feel $75 was enough incentive • Booming economy • More difficult to get participants • Face-to-face interviews • Participants enjoyed the personal interaction with Research Assistants

35. Plans for Future Data Collection • 3 more data collection • Spread over the next 4 years • Currently in the process of organizing for Time 2 • Data collection for Time 2 will begin in Sept., 2007 • Gambling behavior will be tracked over these 4 years • Constructs associated with biological, psychological, and social factors • Last 3 data collections, participants will complete the surveys using a web-based system • Genetic study • Have received funding • Examine the relationship between pathological gambling and genetic markers

36. Thanks Questions? David Casey, Ph.D. University of Calgary dcasey@ucalgary.ca