Gambling

Spirit of Bingoland - '94 (Alberta)
Spirit of Bingoland (Ontario)
Firewatch - '95
Dreamchaser - '99

Gambling like alcohol has had a negative impact on aboriginal people and our communities for sometime now. Research is a tool with which we can determine the extent of gambling and gambling problems within our people and the impact that it has in our lives, in our children's lives. Research also provides us with the knowledge that we will need to improve our lives in determining if and what type of programs or strides we need to make towards living and promoting a healthy, addictions free lifestyle.

Nechi Institute has conducted several research studies as follows. The second study, "Firewatch" was conducted as a result of the first study, "Spirit of Bingoland" which provided devasting data on the full impact on gambling, and we became concerned for the children involved. This is how "Firewatch" came to be realized. After determining the high prevalence of gambling within our youth population, we were interested in examining the adult population in much the same manner. "Dreamchaser" was born. As the title denotes, the most common reason for gambling was to win big! Does anyone ever really come out a winner?

1994 - Spirit of Bingoland (Alberta)
(Purpose: To increase the understanding of problem gamblers and to determine the focus of developing programs).

* 156 Aboriginal adults from Alberta, ages 18-82 who were currently problem gamblers.
* 95.5% were experiencing severe problems in gambling.
* Education Level - 40% beyond High School, 20% University Grads.
* Income Levels - 36% make $15, 000 or less, 11% make more than $50,000
* 79% have children, 25% are 5 yrs or younger and 65% are single parents.
* 33% live with a spouse with a gambling problem and 46% gamble with family members
* 70% have siblings with a gambling problem, 80% have relatives with gambling problem
* 66% participated in five or more types of gambling activities in the past year.
* Bingo had the highest prevalence rate at 89% and 67% said it was their favorite game.

Problem gamblers live in a world of problem gamblers! Problem gamblers start gambling early in life. Twenty-Two percent started gambling before age 16 and fifty percent started at age 19. Other social factors included, 60% former drinkers and drug users were experiencing problems in gambling. Thirty-Two percent were sick or disabled and 75% had lost a friend or family member to death. The more severe the gambling problem, the more people experienced the following: Spent more money & time than intended; gambled to be alone and to forget problems; felt nervous about money spent; started gambling earlier; know more people with gambling problems; been in trouble with the law; sought help; live on the reserve; attended residential school and grieving losses.

Spirit of Bingoland (Ontario)
(Purpose: To gain a better understanding of problem gambling within two Ontario First Nations communities, Chippewas of Mnjikaning (Rama) and Chippewas of Sarnia. This study is based on an earlier one conducted in Alberta.)

In total, 100 interviews were conducted, 50 in each community with adults who were identified within their communities as being heavily involved with gambling.

Sixty two per cent of those interviewed were women. The average age was 35 years, with a range of 17 to 71. The education level was relatively high, with 56% having training beyond high school. Sixty-three per cent were currently employed, and only 6% were looking for work. The majority (62%) had household incomes of $30,000 or less.

More than half (58%) had children living at home, with the majority having children 12 years old or younger. Forty-one per cent of those with children at home were single parents.

The most popular forms of gambling reported were raffles; instant or scratch tickets; break-open, pull tabs or Nevadas; lotto games, and bingo. Participation rates for all were 78% or greater. Some differences were noted between the two communities. Most of the participants in the study (78%) were involved in five or more types of gambling. The average amount spent per month on gambling was $380, with one individual reporting spending more than $7,000 per month. The average age at which gambling began was 19 years, however, almost one-quarter began at age 15 or younger.

Gambling was largely a social activity, with approximately 80% indicating they usually gambled with their spouse, other family or friends. Gambling was also a time consuming activity, with the majority spending three to five hours at a typical gambling session.

Using the South Oaks Gambling Screen, approximately 50% of those interviewed were classified as lifetime problem or pathological gamblers. The most common problems were spending more time and money than expected, feeling guilty about gambling, and borrowing money from a spouse or the household funds. For those with more severe problems borrowing on credit cards, borrowing from others and not paying back, having arguments with family, and hiding evidence of gambling were additional problems.

A number of factors were related to the severity of problem gambling:

* Those who were younger and those who began gambling at an earlier age were more likely to have money problems.
* People with lower incomes had more severe problems.
* The more severe the problem, the more likely it is that a person will have family or friends who have a problem.
* Among those who had recently experienced a death, strong feelings of grief were associated with more problems.
* Those who were single parents tended to have severe problems and spend more money on gambling.

The result of this study suggests that:

* Gambling is a significant problem in the two communities.
* Recognition that problems exist is very low and should be addressed.
* Consideration should be given to providing treatment to those in difficulty.

'FIREWATCH' - Aboriginal Youth Gambling Research Project
AADAC Partnership

The purpose of this study was to provide an accurate estimate of the prevalence of problem gambling among Alberta Native youth and to determine the personal, cultural, social and financial factors related to gambling and problem gambling.

A massive undertaking, this study surveyed 1,000 Aboriginal students from all regions of Alberta (including the Reserve and the urban populations) and was released December 1995. The survey asked questions concerning leisure/cultural activities, smoking habits and the use of intoxicants as well as gambling activity of both the students and their families.

The purpose of this study was to provide an estimate of the prevalence of gambling and problem gambling among Alberta Aboriginal youth and to determine the personal, cultural and social factors related to gambling and problem gambling.

1,961 Aboriginal students participated in the study. They were enrolled in grades five through 12 in 28 schools located throughout Alberta. Their average age was 14, with males and females being equally represented.

Over, 89% of the students had gambled for money in the past year. Male students were somewhat more likely to gamble (92%) than female students (86%). The prevalence rate is similar to rates found among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students in recent studies.

Playing bingo had the highest prevalence rate (57%), followed by playing cards with family and friends (49%), scratch tabs (48%), betting on sports teams (42%) and betting on personal skills games (35%). All other forms had rates of 30% or less. More female than male students played bingo. The most frequent gambling activities (ie. played weekly or more often) were betting on sports teams (13%), bingo (12%), playing cards (10%) and playing video games like Nintendo (10%).

The average age at which gambling began was 11 with more than 25% beginning before age 10. This is younger than in other recent studies where the average age was about 13.

Over one-third (36%) of the students drink alcohol regularly or once in a while. Drinking increased with age but did not vary with gender. The average age at which drinking began was 12. The percentage of students who drink was similar to that found among all Alberta students, however, frequency of drinking is higher among these students.

Forty-five per cent of the students had used marijuana in the past year. Prevalence and frequency of use increased with age but did not vary with gender. Hallucinogens were the next most frequently used drug (125). Other drugs had prevalence rates ranging from 9% to 5%. Marijuana use was almost 2.5 times that found in the general Alberta ad0adolescent population and in a group of Minnesota Native-Americans. Use of most other drugs was also higher in this group.

Forty-eight per cent of the students smoked regularly or once in a while. Female students were more likely to smoke than male. The respective percentages were 58 and 39. Smoking dramatically increased after age 12. Of those 12 and under, 11% smoked regularly, while for those 13-15 and 16 or older, the respective percentages were 30 and 47. The average age at which smoking began was 11. The percentage of students in this study who have never smoked (32%) was lower than in the general Alberta student population (49%).

The students in this study were very active within their communities with 83% participating in cultural events, 87% in sports and 56% in other activities like music, art and writing.

Death of friends and family was a common experience for these students. Forty per cent had friends die within the last year or two, 10% from suicide. approximately 70% had family members die in the same period, 22% from accidents and 11% from suicide.

Violence and sexual abuse were also common experiences. Fifty-seven per cent had been hit in anger and 17% had someone "touch their private parts" when they did not want it to happen.

Gambling problem severity was measured using the South Oaks Gambling Screen revised for adolescents. Using this scale and frequency of gambling, the students were classified as follows: 11% - do gamble; 38% - no problem gambling; 21% - at risk for problem gambling; and 28% - problem gamblers.

The rate of problems gambling among these students was more that three times that found in a similar study of non-Aboriginal youth (Winters et al 1993b).

Problem gamblers were more likely to be male (65%) than female (35%). Problem gamblers were younger (13.5 years) than those at risk (14 years) or who gambled without problems (14.3 years). However, they were the same age as those who did not gamble (13.4 years).

Gamblers were more likely to drink alcohol, smoke tobacco and use marijuana than were non-gamblers. Among gamblers those identified as 'problem' were likely to drink more frequently, drink more at one time, and to use drugs other than marijuana.

Gamblers were more likely than non-gamblers to have experienced physical abuse and to have had their property damaged or stolen. among gamblers, those 'at risk' of developing problems were most likely to have experienced these things.

The gamblers were also more likely to come from homes where one or both parents gambled. In those home where the mother's gambling was of concern (23%), the students were more likely to have had family members commit suicide (15%), to have experienced violence (71%) and sexual abuse (24%), to have had arguments about gambling (45%), and to gamble to forget their problems (30%). They6 are also more likely to be problem gamblers.

Three-quarters (74%) of the students live with their mother. In &&% of these homes the father is also present. More that one-third (36%) of the students who live with their mother have younger brothers and/or sisters living with them. Since the average age of the students is 14, the average age of the younger siblings would be less that 14. In more than half (53%) of these homes the mother gambles and in about 20% the students expressed concern about their mother's gambling. A significant number of young children appear to be at risk because of their mother's gambling.

This study is the first of its kind and provides valuable information which can be used at the community level to increase awareness about adolescent gambling problems and to stimulate the development of problem prevention strategies.

Adolescence is a time of rapid individual change in a rapidly changing world. This study provides a baseline which describes the current situation with respect to gambling and associated factors. This study should be repeated frequently (every two to three years) in order to monitor change and to assist in assessing the effectiveness of any problem prevention strategies that are implemented.

Dreamchaser - An Aboriginal Adult Gambling Prevalence Study in Alberta
(Purpose: To provide an estimate of the prevalence of gambling among adults and to determine the cultural and social factors that may be related to gambling and problem gambling).

* 500 Aboriginal adults ages 18 through 80 from across Alberta
* 88% were presently gambling, 12% were non-gamblers, 63% were non-problem gamblers, 7% were problem gamblers and 17% were probable pathological gamblers.
* Age on onset of gambling was 19 with 33% gambling before age 10.
* First gambling activity was Bingo (43%) followed by cards 23%.
* Scratch tickets had the highest prevalence rate at 66%, Lotto games at 60% then bingo at 57% and VLT's at 52%.
* 68% employed, 11% students, 7% homemakers and 77% active in community.
* 65% had children living with them.
* 49% use alcohol and 65% smoke
* 55% suffered deaths of friends and or family and 49% suffered other losses as well.
* 50% drink alcohol, 66% smoke 24% are former Residential school students.
* 54% had experienced deaths in the past year.
* Gamblers were more likely to be married than Non-gamblers.
* Non-Gamblers have a lower income than gamblers.

Problem gamblers have a lower level of education and a lower income, however probable pathological gamblers have a higher income and are more likely to live on a reserve. Probable pathological gamblers said that they gambled to win, to get out of the house, to forget problems, to be alone, indicating greater alienation. Only 29% have sought help for their gambling problem.

To order any of the research documents we have for sale visit our publications page on the NAAW