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The problem with gambling exposes, National Post
April 7, 2009
Opinion Editorial—The stories are undeniable; so should be the facts That problem gambling can be devastating for people and families is undeniable. Recently, this has been the subject of the CBC documentary Playing the Machines, and the W-Five episode Winners and Losers. For the people featured in these stories, gambling became something that had a serious impact on their lives. I have personally known people who have struggled with this painful problem and know how difficult it can be for those afflicted to talk about their concerns. I commend those featured in the interviews for speaking out. Their stories are real and compelling. However, the themes that ran through both shows, buttressed by the views and opinions of the so-called experts and authorities cited in these programs cause me concern – principally, because they are so at odds with the facts. The facts are that the vast majority of gamblers pursue this form of entertainment without the problems highlighted in the programs, and also that neither gaming devices nor casino environments are responsible for problem gambling. Repeated research by the Canadian Partnership for Responsible Gambling shows that approximately one per cent of Canadians can be classified as problem gamblers. This is confirmed by research conducted by Doctors Jamie Wiebe, Ph. D., and Rachel Volberg, Ph. D., that determined that the rate of problem gambling over the last twenty years has remained consistent at approximately one percent of the population across Canada (and around the world) regardless of year, jurisdiction, sample size or methodology (Problem Gambling Prevalence Research: A Critical Overview – December 2007). Further, they found that jurisdictions that combine the introduction of new forms of gambling with an effective public awareness campaign about the dangers of gambling and how to avoid them were likely to experience a decrease in problem gambling numbers. Given that more than 75 percent of adult Canadians gamble in one form or another, the assertion that a high proportion of gaming revenue comes from the one percent of the population who are problem gamblers is utterly without foundation. That particular claim comes from a study of fewer than 100 people, and even the authors themselves deem it to be “extremely tentative”. Leading experts on addictions and pathological behaviour tell us that the problem is within the individual, and not in the bottle, device or object of their addiction. To quote Howard J. Scaffer, Ph .D, C.A.S., Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Division on Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance: “There is a myth regarding addictive behaviours around gambling, that the game causes the disorder. In fact, the game does not cause the disorder, because if it did, everyone who played the game would end up with the problem. It’s the relationship of a person with vulnerabilities to the games that they play, that essentially determines whether or not they will have a problem.” So, what then are the respective roles of government and the industry in providing help to the one percent of problem gamers who need it? And what are the responsibilities of those individuals themselves? Addiction treatment experts tell us that in order to be helped a person must first take responsibility for his or her problem. They also tell us that when an addict, rather than taking personal responsibility, attempts to shift the responsibility for his or her problems onto another party, it is a form of denial. Which brings us to the unfounded criticisms leveled at self-exclusion programs in the CTV broadcast. Self-exclusion programs were never intended to be a form of policing. Their intent is to help people face up to the fact that they have a problem with gambling and to encourage them to make a formal decision to stop gambling and to seek treatment. Again, researchers tell us that self-exclusion is most effective when combined with treatment programs. For their part, government and industry are already doing much to help those people with problems. In Canada, about $102 million is invested annually in responsible gaming awareness, education, treatment and research – more per capita than any other country in the world. In Ontario alone over the past year, there has been a long list of enhancements that includes:
Across this country none of the more than 135,000 Canadians working in casinos, video lottery establishments, race tracks, bingo halls, lottery kiosks and government offices want to be associated with an industry that is anything less than responsible. I commend our national networks for drawing attention to the issue of problem gambling. But I would also encourage the adoption of a balanced forward-looking approach that examines what’s currently working well in the area of problem gambling as well as what needs to be done better, as the industry continues to evolve. The first challenge, however, is to agree on a common set of facts.
Bill Rutsey The Canadian Gaming Association represents the gaming industry's leading operators, manufacturers, suppliers and other stakeholders nation-wide. For more information, please visit www.canadiangaming.ca
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