The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER, Vol. 1(39) - Family History of Problem Gambling

A recent study* surveyed 1,030 Ontario adults by telephone about their gambling behav­iors and attitudes. The study found 11% of the respondents reported that their father, mother, or both gambled too much. Those who reported a family history of problem gambling were more likely to have a gambling problem themselves. Specifically, respondents who were classi­fied by the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) to be pathological gamblers were signifi­cantly more likely to have a family member with a gambling problem. One percent of respondents who did not have a family history of problem gambling were pathological gamblers, while 4% of respondents... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 1(38) - Per Capita Lottery Expenditures Increase for All New England States

Per capita lottery expenditures increased for each of the six New England States from 1994 to 1995. “Lottery” includes lotto, cash lotto, 4-digit, powerball, scratch tickets, daily, keno, pulltabs, numbers, and video lottery terminals (VLTs). Massachusetts leads New England in per capita lottery expenditures with $459.86 in 1995. Rhode Island’s per capita lottery expenditures increased 72% between 1994 and 1995. This increase may be related to the recent introduction of new VLT games and large ($100 million) Powerball jackpots. On a national level, lottery sales increased in all but three of the 37 states that currently have a lottery. Each... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 1(37) - Gambling Treatment Outcome: Methodology

A recent study of six state-supported gambling treatment programs in Minnesota evaluated the treatment outcomes of 944 clients seeking help for gambling problems. Determining the criteria for “treat­ment success” is a necessary step in this evaluation. While some might consider abstinence the appropri­ate measure of success, others consider meaningful change in behavior to be treatment success. Stinchfield & Winters (1996)presented three alternatives of treatment outcome measures: 1) abstinence rates, 2) tests of statistical significance, and 3) clinical significance of change. Abstinence rates are dichotomous (abstinent or not abstinent). This simplification may obscure gamblers’ gradual improvement over time. Tests of statistical... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 1(36) - Gambling Commission Act Signed into Law

On August 3, 1996, the “National Gambling Impact and Policy Commission Act” became a reality when President Clinton signed the Act into law. This Act established a nine-member federal commission whose task is to conduct a two-year study on the impact of gambling in the United States. More specifi­cally, the Act requires the Commission “to conduct a comprehensive legal and factual study of the social and economic impacts of gambling in the United States.”* The Commission will focus on the following six distinct areas of concern:** 1. “Review existing federal, state, local, and Native American tribal government policies and practices... Read more →