Characteristics of people seeking treatment for problem gambling in Ontario: Trends from 1998 to 2002

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen A. Urbanoski ◽  
Brian R. Rush
Keyword(s):  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Slot Machines ◽  
Treatment System ◽  
Fiscal Year ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Male Clients ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Gambling Treatment

This report summarizes the characteristics of individuals who sought help within Ontario's specialized problem gambling treatment system during its first four years of operation. All clients recorded in the provincial information system database as having entered a gambling treatment program between April 1, 1998, and March 31, 2002, are included. Broad trends and gender differences in demographic characteristics, gambling behaviours, and problem severity are considered and compared by fiscal year. Compared to population-based estimates of problem gambling, the number of clients served by this specialized treatment system is low but steadily increasing. Women have consistently made up approximately one third of clients entering treatment in each fiscal year, and their sociodemographic profile, their gaming preferences, and the duration of their problem gambling careers differ from those of male clients. The growing proportion of clients of both genders seeking help for problems related to slot machines is of primary concern and warrants further study.

scholarly journals Assessment of Problem Gambling in a Chinese Context: The Chinese G-MAP

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 548-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. L. Shek ◽  
Elda M. L. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Gambling Behavior ◽  
Treatment Center ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Pathological Gamblers ◽  
Problem Gamblers ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Gambling Treatment

There is a severe lack of instruments to assess problem gambling in Chinese people. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Maroondah Assessment Profile for Problem Gambling (Chinese G-MAP), based on the responses of eight problem gamblers and 125 pathological gamblers seeking help from a problem gambling treatment center. Reliability analyses showed that the G-MAP and its related domains and scales were generally internally consistent. There are also several lines of evidence suggesting that the Chinese G-MAP and the various domains are valid: (a) the various G-MAP domain and scale measures were significantly correlated among themselves, (b) the G-MAP measures were significantly correlated with pathological gambling behavior assessed by the 4thEdition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), and (c) the G-MAP total scale and domain measures were able to discriminate problem gamblers and pathological gamblers. The present study suggests that the Chinese G-MAP possesses acceptable psychometric properties that can be used in research and practice settings.

Characteristics of People Seeking Help from Specialized Programs for the Treatment of Problem Gambling in Ontario

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Rush ◽  
Raquel Shaw Moxam ◽  
Karen A. Urbanoski
Keyword(s):  
Problem Gambling ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Gambling Problem ◽  
Agency Staff ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Seeking Help ◽  
Problem Severity ◽  
Central Database ◽  
Gambling Activities ◽  
Gambling Treatment

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to estimate the number of people seeking treatment on an annual basis in Ontario at specialized problem gambling treatment programs and describe important characteristics of clients. Method: Agency staff prospectively collected four broad information categories from clients: demographics, gambling activities, problem severity and services received, and submitted the data to a central database. Sample: The report includes submissions (total caseload equals 2224) from 44 designated problem gambling programs between January 1, 1998 and April 30, 2000. Results: Of the 2224 clients in treatment, 1625 (73.5%) were seeking help for their own gambling problem, and 504 (22.8%) were seeking help in dealing with a family member/significant other's gambling problem. The overall gender ratio of cases in treatment was about 1.4:1 (58.3% to 41.7%) males to females. A wide range of gambling activities was reported as problematic. Conclusion: Only a small percentage of people experiencing problems related to gambling are seeking help from specialized treatment programs. Population survey data are needed in Ontario to assess the potential over- or under- representation of particular sub-groups in treatment compared to the epidemiology of problem gambling in the community.

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