gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge

Table 35: Importance of Gambling as a
Recreational Activity in 2008.
Not at all important 75.8%
Not very important 19.6%
Somewhat important 3.7%
Very important 0.9%
Further analysis established that there was a significant positive correlation between
individuals reporting gambling to be an important leisure activity, and his/her frequency of
gambling (r = .42, p < .00001, N = 2995) as well as the number of gambling formats he/she
engages in (r = .47, p < .00001, N = 2995). Problem gamblers were the group most likely to
report that gambling was a somewhat or very important recreational activity to them (35.3%).
The impact of gambling on leisure activity was also investigated by asking the question in the
2008 population survey “Has gambling replaced other recreational activities for you in the past
5 years?”. Only 2.6% of the overall sample said “yes”, with a wide range of different activities
identified as having being replaced: participating in sports (playing, coaching) (33.8%), outdoor
leisure (e.g., walking, camping, driving, off-roading, horseback riding) (16.2%), going to the
movies (10.3%), drinking (going to bar) (10.3%), interacting/spending time with friends (7.4%),
artistic activities (drawing/painting, singing, playing music, dancing, photography, writing,
designing, etc.) (7.4%), watching television (4.4%), attending cultural activities (4.4%), travelling
(2.9%), other hobbies or crafts (e.g., collecting, knitting/sewing, puzzles, etc.) (2.9%),
interacting/spending time with family (2.9%), reading (1.5%), gardening (1.5%), computer
activities (surfing Internet, gaming, etc.) (1.5%), playing card or board games (1.5%), shopping
(1.5%), other forms of gambling (1.5%), other (7.4%).
Here again, the likelihood of gambling replacing other recreational activities was significantly
correlated with frequency of gambling (r = .20, p < .00001, N = 2997) and number of gambling
formats engaged in (r = .22, p < .00001, N = 2997). Problem gamblers were the group most
likely to report that gambling had replaced other recreational activities (41.5%).
In summary, the fact that most Albertans have participated in some form of gambling in the
past year provides evidence that certain forms of gambling (primarily lotteries and raffles) are
valued leisure activities. A much smaller percentage of Albertans participate in multiple forms
of gambling on a frequent basis. These are also the individuals most likely to report that
gambling is actually an important leisure activity to them (something that most Albertans do
not report).
Consumer Surplus
Some economists have attempted to quantify the leisure benefits of gambling in terms of
‘consumer surplus’, which is the difference between what people would be willing to pay for a
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