The New Zealand national survey of problem and pathological gambling (original) (raw)
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Changes in risky gambling prevalence among a New Zealand population cohort
International Gambling Studies, 2016
Evidence suggests that problem gambling is an unstable state where gamblers move into and out of risk over time. This article looks at longitudinal changes in risky gambling and the factors associated with an increased risk (measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index [PGSI]) in the current New Zealand context, which has experienced a doubling of the electronic gaming machine (EGM) market over the last two decades. Respondents from a nationally representative baseline sample (n = 2672) were recontacted two years later to assess changes in gambling behaviours. Among the 901 respondents reached at follow-up, average gambling risk increased over time, and the prevalence of those who had at least some level of gambling risk (i.e. low-risk or greater) more than doubled (from 4.7% to 12.4%). The majority (80.2%) of those who were at risk at follow-up had not been at risk at baseline. Multivariate linear regression analyses show that the predictors of low to moderate increased risk include Pacific ethnicity; high neighbourhood deprivation status; baseline frequent, continuous gambler type; baseline PGSI status; and playing EGMs. These findings highlight the need to develop theories of gambling addiction trajectories and to identify the earliest point along the trajectory where public health interventions should occur.
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 2017
This paper describes the design, sampling, recruitment, and data analysis of the prospective, nationally representative New Zealand National Gambling Study. Particular aspects of the study were critical for its success as a longitudinal epidemiologic study, making its methodology beneficial for replication in other jurisdictions. At baseline (2012), 6251 adults were interviewed and followed-up in 2013, 2014, and 2015. An additional cohort of 106 moderate-risk/problem gamblers interviewed at baseline (2014-2015) and follow-up (2015-2016) increased the number of these groups in the study. Measures included gambling commencement, gambling frequency, gambling risk levels, at-risk and problem gambling development (incidence), comorbidity, problem gambling cessation, and relapse. Future stages include a follow-up assessment in 2019 and a qualitative study. The study design enables assessment of population and individual level changes and transitions over time, identification of risk and protective factors, and comparisons with previous similarly designed prospective studies. Methods for enhancing response rates and retention are discussed.
Comparing the New Zealand and Swedish National Surveys of Gambling and Problem Gambling
Journal of Gambling Studies, 2004
National surveys of gambling and problem gambling have recently been completed in New Zealand and Sweden. These studies are unique in that data collection was undertaken by official government statistical agencies, involved large, nationally representative samples, and attained high response rates. Comparison of the findings is facilitated by the use of similar procedures and instrumentation and is of interest in that both countries have similar per capita gambling expenditure and welfare states that have recently undergone major economic and social restructuring. Data on gambling participation, problem gambling prevalence and risk factors for problem gambling are presented and discussed. While there are a number of similarities and differences, the Swedish findings are more similar to those of an earlier national survey conducted in New Zealand during 1991. This suggests that risk factors are changing over time in relation to evolving patterns of gambling participation and attitudes towards gambling, a finding that has implications for future patterns of gambling and problem gambling in these and other countries.
2006
Demographic associations with pathoiogicai gambling are usually based on findings with population samples which include less serious problem gamblers. The present study examined the relative contribution of risk factors for pathological gambling in selected ethnic groups. A questionnaire which included the DSM-IV-TR symptoms of pathological gambling was completed by 345 South Auckland adults. Approximately 92% gambled and 38% of the gamblers met the criterion of at least five symptoms for current probable pathological gambling. Ethnicity and the interaction between gender and ethnicity were significant predictors of pathological gambling, after controlling for regular gambling, number of favourite continuous gambling activities, gender, age and occupation. Males and females were equivalently at high risk in New Zealand European and Maori groups, but not in the Pacific or Asian groups where males were at greater risk. The findings should be treated with caution owing to the non-representative nature of the sample. They suggest, however, that further research, including prospective investigation, is warranted to advance understanding of the development of problem gambling in different ethnic groups.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2012
roblem gambling is a significant social issue for many New Zealanders. This is recognised in New Zealand's legislation, which requires a public health focus addressing both problem gambling and wider gambling harm (Gambling Act 2003, Part 4, s.317). New Zealand (NZ) and Sweden are the only national jurisdictions to have formally adopted a public health approach to problem gambling, although others are considering or introducing similar measures. We begin by briefly describing NZ's public health approach, focusing on the development and implementation of an awareness and education program. We then describe the design of, and present results from, a national survey that provides baseline data as the starting point for evaluating the effectiveness of the program-the 2006/07 Gaming and Betting Activities Survey (GBAS). NZ's legislation requires an integrated strategy across the continuum of gambling harm, from prevention to treatment, and independent research and evaluation. The Ministry of Health is responsible for this strategy, placing NZ's response to problem gambling firmly in the health arena. Framing gambling harm as a public health issue moves gambling beyond an individual behaviour to explore its context, epidemiology, and social characteristics. 1,2 This framing is evident in the broad definition of harm in the NZ legislation: harm or distress of any kind arising from, or caused or exacerbated by, a person's gambling; and includes personal, social, or economic harm suffered by the person; or the person's spouse, civil union partner, de facto partner, family, whanau, or wider community; or in the workplace; or by society at large (Part 1, s.4). A public health framework leads to "a set of public policy goals, strategies for action, and standards of public accountability that: • prevent gambling-related problems in individuals and groups at risk of gambling addiction • promote informed and balanced attitudes, behaviours and policies towards gambling and gamblers both by individuals and communities • protect vulnerable groups from gambling-related harms". 1(p246). Public health models also are "community anchored and promote community-based decision-making" 1(p 246) , as well as seeking to denormalise harmful behaviours by getting society to understand and question the issues, and debate and reach a consensus on the acceptability of the harms.
Does one shoe fit all? Impacts of gambling among four ethnic groups in New Zealand
Journal of Gambling Issues, 2011
The aim of the current study is to examine the impacts of gambling among four different ethnic groups within New Zealand (i.e., Maori, Pakeha, Pacific peoples, and Chinese and Korean peoples). Four thousand and sixty-eight Pakeha, 1,162 Maori, 1,031 Pacific people, and 984 Chinese and Korean people took part in a telephone interview that assessed their gambling participation and their quality of life. Results showed a number of differences between ethnic groups. For the Maori and Pacific samples, there were significant associations between gambling participation (especially time spent on electronic gaming machines) and lower ratings in a number of life domains. In contrast to the findings for the Maori and Pacific peoples, which showed predominantly negative associations between gambling modes and people's self ratings of their domains of life, the findings for Pakeha and for Chinese and Korean peoples were more mixed and the associations predominantly positive.
What Do We Know About Gambling in New Zealand
Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 2004
A public health approach to gambling policy depends upon careful socioeconomic analysis to guide resource allocation to education, information provision and treatment. This paper argues that existing research does not provide the required factual basis for such an approach, yielding conclusions that are either inconclusive or inconsistent in crucial areas, because it tends to be aimed at exploring pathology not social processes. We conclude that a better research agenda must be based on studies that explore gambling in its social and economic context.
Prevalence of gambling and problem gambling in New South Wales
This report contains the results from the 2011 survey (N=10,000 adults) of the prevalence of gambling and problem gambling in New South Wales (NSW). The research was undertaken by Ogilvy Illumination on behalf of the NSW Government. The survey found that 65% of the NSW population had participated in at least one gambling activity in the last 12 months. The most popular gambling activity was lotteries (41%) followed by instant scratch tickets (28%), gaming machines (27%), horse-greyhound races (24%), Keno (14%), sports betting (8%), table games in a casino (7%) and casino or pokies-style games on the Internet (2%). Problem gambling was measured using the Problem Gambling Severity Index. The survey classified 0.8% of adults as problem gamblers, 2.9% as moderate risk gamblers and 8.4% as low risk gamblers. Problem gamblers were significantly more likely to be male, younger (18-24 years and 35-54 years), be single, be divorced/separated/widowed, unemployed, have low educational attainme...
Journal of Gambling Studies, 2006
Objective To determine, using a random telephone survey, the prevalence of various gambling activities among South Australian adults, the prevalence of adult problem gamblers using the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) instrument, and to examine the problem gamblers by demographic and health-related risk factors. Method A random representative sample of South Australian adults selected from the Electronic White Pages. Overall, 6045 interviews were conducted (73.1% response rate) using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) technology. Results Overall, 75.6% (95% CI: 74.5–76.7) of respondents had participated in at least one gambling activity during the last 12 months and 2.0% (95% CI: 1.7–2.4) were identified to be problem gamblers. A wide range of factors was associated with problem gambling at a univariate level, when compared to frequent gamblers. The logistic regression analysis highlighted that problem gamblers were more likely to speak a language other than English, be employed part time and a smoker when compared to frequent gamblers. Problem gamblers were also more likely to have a mental health condition (according to the Kessler 10), have had suicidal thoughts and know of services for gambling problems. Conclusion There is a wide range of characteristics associated with problem gambling in South Australia. All of these factors need addressing during policy development to assist problem gamblers.