gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge
gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge
gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge
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significant change <strong>in</strong> reported cas<strong>in</strong>o expenditure between 2008 and 2009 either for New<br />
Cas<strong>in</strong>o Areas (p = .12, 2 tail) or for Established Cas<strong>in</strong>o Areas (p = .31, 2 tail).<br />
With regards to <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> status on the PPGM, a significant change <strong>in</strong> PPGM categorization <strong>in</strong><br />
the New Cas<strong>in</strong>o Areas occurred from 2008 to 2009 (Chi Square (3df) = 34.7, p = < .001).<br />
Similarly, a significant change from 2008 to 2009 was observed <strong>in</strong> the Established Cas<strong>in</strong>o Areas<br />
(Chi Square (3df) = 102.8, p < .001). However, <strong>in</strong> both cases, pairwise comparisons showed this<br />
to be due to a decrease <strong>in</strong> the proportion <strong>of</strong> Non-Gamblers and a correspond<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> the<br />
proportion <strong>of</strong> Recreational Gamblers from 2008 and 2009 (i.e., although the rate <strong>of</strong> problem<br />
<strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong>creased somewhat <strong>in</strong> the New Cas<strong>in</strong>o Area and decreased somewhat <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Established Cas<strong>in</strong>o Area, these changes were not statistically significant). The reason for this<br />
change <strong>in</strong> general <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> prevalence is unclear, as it is not mirrored <strong>in</strong> the General<br />
Population data (the Alberta-wide prevalence <strong>of</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> 2008 was 72.2% versus 73.5% <strong>in</strong><br />
2009) (Table 18, p. 103). It is possible that <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> participation <strong>in</strong> 2009 <strong>in</strong> these<br />
regions is related to the worldwide recession that occurred <strong>in</strong> 2008/2009 (Statistics Canada<br />
reports that the recession <strong>in</strong> Canada lasted from the fall <strong>of</strong> 2008 to the summer <strong>of</strong> 2009).<br />
Table 42: Gambl<strong>in</strong>g and Problem Gambl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> New versus Established Cas<strong>in</strong>o Areas<br />
<strong>in</strong> 2008 and 2009.<br />
New Cas<strong>in</strong>o Area<br />
Established Cas<strong>in</strong>o<br />
Area<br />
2008 2009 2008 2009<br />
Past Year Slot Mach<strong>in</strong>e Patronage 19.6% 19.1% 16.4% 16.9%<br />
Past Year Table Game Patronage 7.1% 7.0% 7.0% 5.2%<br />
Average Monthly Cas<strong>in</strong>o Expenditure $59 $94 $48 $67<br />
Median Monthly Cas<strong>in</strong>o Expenditure $20 $20 $20 $20<br />
PPGM Non-Gambler 25.5% 17.3% 30.1% 17.3%<br />
PPGM Recreational Gambler 66.3% 73.5% 61.8% 72.7%<br />
PPGM At Risk Gambler 6.3% 6.6% 5.8% 7.9%<br />
PPGM Problem & Pathological Gambler 1.9% 2.6% 2.3% 2.0%<br />
Change with<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividual regions may be obscured by these aggregated results. Thus, change <strong>in</strong><br />
cas<strong>in</strong>o expenditure and problem <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> prevalence for each <strong>in</strong>dividual region from 2008 to<br />
2009 is reported <strong>in</strong> Table 43. Only the Fort McMurray area (Established Cas<strong>in</strong>o area) had a<br />
statistically significant change (<strong>in</strong>crease) <strong>in</strong> <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> expenditure from 2008 to 2009 (Mann-<br />
Whitney U = 4258, p = .04, 2 tail). The relatively small sample sizes for each region (500 per<br />
region <strong>in</strong> 2008 and 400 <strong>in</strong> 2009) limit the ability to show statistically significant differences <strong>in</strong><br />
problem <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> rates if they did exist. And <strong>in</strong>deed, no statistically significant differences <strong>in</strong><br />
PPGM problem <strong>gambl<strong>in</strong>g</strong> prevalence was observed <strong>in</strong> any region from 2008 to 2009, with one<br />
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