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. 2021 May;66(5):485-494.
doi: 10.1177/0706743720980080. Epub 2020 Dec 23.

Gambling and Problem Gambling in Canada in 2018: Prevalence and Changes Since 2002

Robert J Williams  1 , Carrie A Leonard  2 , Yale D Belanger  3 , Darren R Christensen  1 , Nady El-Guebaly  4 , David C Hodgins  5 , Daniel S McGrath  5 , Fiona Nicoll  6 , Rhys M G Stevens  2
Affiliations

Gambling and Problem Gambling in Canada in 2018: Prevalence and Changes Since 2002

Robert J Williams et al. Can J Psychiatry. 2021 May.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide an updated profile of gambling and problem gambling in Canada and to examine how the rates and pattern of participation compare to 2002.

Method: An assessment of gambling and problem gambling was included in the 2018 Canadian Community Health Survey and administered to 24,982 individuals aged 15 and older. The present analyses selected for adults (18+).

Results: A total of 66.2% of people reported engaging in some type of gambling in 2018, primarily lottery and/or raffle tickets, the only type in which the majority of Canadians participate. There are some significant interprovincial differences, with perhaps the most important one being the higher rate of electronic gambling machine (EGM) participation in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The overall pattern of gambling in 2018 is very similar to 2002, although participation is generally much lower in 2018, particularly for EGMs and bingo. Only 0.6% of the population were identified as problem gamblers in 2018, with an additional 2.7% being at-risk gamblers. There is no significant interprovincial variation in problem gambling rates. The interprovincial pattern of problem gambling in 2018 is also very similar to what was found in 2002 with the main difference being a 45% decrease in the overall prevalence of problem gambling.

Conclusions: Gambling and problem gambling have both decreased in Canada from 2002 to 2018 although the provincial patterns are quite similar between the 2 time periods. Several mechanisms have likely collectively contributed to these declines. Decreases have also been reported in several other Western countries in recent years and have occurred despite the expansion of legal gambling opportunities, suggesting a degree of inoculation or adaptation in large parts of the population.

Objectif:: La présente étude a pour but d’offrir un profil à jour du jeu et du jeu problématique au Canada, et d’examiner comment les taux et le modèle de participation se comparent à ceux de 2002.

Méthode:: Une évaluation du jeu et du jeu problématique était comprise dans l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes de 2018 et a été administrée à 24 982 personnes de 15 ans et plus. Les présentes analyses sont choisies pour des adultes (18+).

Résultats:: Un total de 66,2% des personnes déclarait s’adonner à un type de jeu en 2018, principalement la loterie et/ou des billets de tirage, le seul type auquel la majorité des Canadiens participe. Il y a certaines différences interprovinciales significatives, sans doute la plus importante étant le taux plus élevé de participation aux machines électroniques de jeu (MEJ) au Manitoba et en Saskatchewan. Le modèle général de jeu en 2018 est très semblable à celui de 2002, bien que la participation soit généralement beaucoup plus faible en 2018, particulièrement pour les MEJ et le bingo. Seulement 0,6% de la population était identifié comme joueurs problématiques en 2018, et 2,7% de plus étaient des joueurs à risque. Il n’y a pas de variation interprovinciale significative des taux de jeu problématique. Le modèle interprovincial de jeu problématique en 2018 est aussi très semblable à ce que nous avons constaté en 2002, la principale différence étant une diminution de 45% de la prévalence générale du jeu problématique.

Conclusions:: Le jeu et le jeu problématique ont tous deux diminué au Canada de 2002 à 2018, bien que les modèles provinciaux soient très semblables entre les deux périodes de temps. Plusieurs mécanismes ont probablement contribué collectivement à ces réductions. Plusieurs pays occidentaux ont aussi rapporté des diminutions ces dernières années, qui se sont produites malgré l’expansion des possibilités de jeu légal, ce qui suggère un degré d’inoculation ou d’adaptation de la population.

Keywords: Canada; gambling; prevalence; problem gambling.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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