Gambling consequences

The consequences of addiction to gambling have been headline news in the media this week.

AFL footballer Brendan Fevola admitted publicly that he has a serious gambling addiction. There are severe consequences for his family, with his wife spending time with her family and one media report revealing that his wife watched as his car was recently repossessed.

Mr Fevola said his problems was internet poker ...
Having gambling available on the internet is even more dangerous since people can gamble in their own homes.

Now a study at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital has found that "ALMOST one in five suicidal patients seen by The Alfred hospital's emergency department is a problem gambler". This includes patients referred by mental health agencies.

Read the media report: Gambling linked to one in five suicidal patients, The Age, 21 April 2010.

The report says

"Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, said researchers made the discovery after screening 898 suicidal patients for gambling problems over six months last year.

"Dr Charles Livingstone, of Monash University's health science department, said the figure ''appals me, but unfortunately I'm not surprised''.

"Professor Kulkarni said the centre began providing specialist treatment late last year for 50 of the screened patients, who have been receiving treatment from GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and other counsellors.After four months, the program has had promising results, with 18 patients with a severe problem having stopped gambling. Their treatment will run for up to 18 months for staff to watch for relapses. State Gaming Minister Tony Robinson yesterday announced $665,000 over two years to expand the program around the state...."

Mr Robinson claimed that only 1% of gamblers are problem gamblers - however some researchers say the figure is much higher. It all depends on how you define 'problem gambler'!

A study carried out by the Victorian government in 2009 and "funded through the Victorian Government’s Taking Action on Problem Gambling commitment" claims that 0.7% of all adults are problem gamblers. The study analysed the used the "prevalence of problem gambling in the Victorian adult population" which they "measured through the nine-item Canadian Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI).
[Click here for an explanation and analysis of the PGSI]

The study also found that 2.36% of all adults are 'moderate-risk gamblers' and 5.70% of adults are 'low-risk gamblers'.
The Report is posted on the Justice Department website:

The executive summary: A Study of Gambling in Victoria - Problem Gambling from a Public Health Perspective

Links to the full report - click here.