The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER, Vol 2(51) - Casino Employment and Community Impact

There are an estimated 330,000 employees working in approximately 463 casinos in 10 states within the U.S. as of July, 1997.1 A recent nationwide survey of casino employees conducted for the American Gaming Association focused on direct employment, job benefits, and community impact of the casino industry.1 Researchers administered the survey to 54% of the eligible sample, which consisted of casino employees of the industry’s major employers. The response rate was 14%. The majority of the respondents had worked in the gaming industry for five years or less (62%). Results were stratified and adjusted by region due to the disproportionate... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol 2(50) - Selling Lottery Tickets to Underage Consumers

A range of research studies has confirmed that underage adolescents are gambling in both informal activities (sports betting, games of skill) and formally structured gambling activities (lottery tickets, casino games). In most states, of course, formal gambling activities are illegal for adolescents under eighteen. A study conducted in Illinois examined the ease with which underage customers can purchase lottery tickets. A 16-year old who “did not appear older than her stated age” attempted to purchase a $1 lottery ticket and cigarettes in tobacco merchant retail shops in Illinois. Of the 50 tobacco merchants who sold lottery tickets, 49 sold a... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol 2(49) - Evaluating the Impact of New Dutch Instant Lottery

The types of legal gambling available in the Netherlands are casinos, slot machines, lotto games, soccer pools, bingo, horse betting, “passive lotteries”, and prize contests. In 1994 the Dutch government supported the introduction of an instant lottery on the condition that an evaluation study be conducted within 2 years of start-up.* The evaluation’s objectives were to identify the extent of at-risk instant lottery players and the characteristics distinguishing at-risk players from recreational players. The researchers operationalized “at-risk playing” as 1) having bought at least 25 instant lottery tickets during the previous month, 2) meeting 1 of 5 measures of impaired... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol 2(48) - Treating Pathological Gambling: A controlled Study

While some treatments for pathological gambling are based on intuitive knowledge or modeled after substance abuse treatment, a few are based on empirical data that illuminates the psychology of gambling. A recent controlled study of a cognitive and behavioral treatment for pathological gambling was based on evidence that an inaccurate perception of the concept of randomness is the primary mistake made by gamblers .* According to the study’s authors, gamblers with this inaccurate perception of randomness develop a set of beliefs that they can control events governed by chance. These beliefs encourage them to pursue gambling despite the unpredictable nature... Read more →