gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge

that gambling had resulted in separation or divorce (4.2% + 1.9%), and 4 reported that child
welfare services had become involved because of their gambling (1.0% + 0.97%). These
numbers, in turn represent about 3,043 cases a year of domestic violence, 3,043 cases a year of
divorce/separation 82 , and 724 cases of child welfare involvement in 2008 and 2009 among the
estimated 72,456 problem gamblers in Alberta.
Work/School Impacts
The magnitude of work and school impacts caused by problem gambling was also assessed
through questions in the 2008 and 2009 population surveys. These surveys asked: a) Has your
involvement in gambling caused significant work or school problems for you or someone close
to you in the past 12 months or caused you to miss a significant amount of time off work or
school?, b) In the past 12 months, about how many work or school days have you lost due to
gambling?, c) In the past 12 months, have you lost your job or had to quit school due to
gambling?, and d) In the past 12 months, have you received unemployment benefits or welfare
payments as a result of losing your job because of gambling?
A total of 14/4005 (3.5% + .6%) people indicated that gambling has caused significant work or
school problems for them in the past year. This projects to about 9,718 Albertans a year.
Among the 403 problem gamblers from the 2008 and 2009 population surveys, there were 27
individuals who reported that gambling had caused them significant work or school problem
and/or miss a significant amount of time off work of school (with an average of 20 days lost); 5
individuals who reported that gambling had caused them to lose employment; and 4 individuals
who reported that gambling had resulted in them receiving unemployment benefits or welfare
payments. This translates into prevalence rates of 6.7% + 2.4% for significant work/school
problems and/or missing work/school, 1.2% + 1.1% for loss of employment and 1.0% + 0.97%
for unemployment/welfare benefits.
These numbers, in turn represent about 97,091 days lost for 4,855 Albertans (representing
0.3% of the Alberta workforce), 899 cases per year of lost employment, and 716 cases per year
of unemployment/welfare benefits in 2008 and 2009, among the estimated 72,456 problem
gamblers.
82 There were 8,075 divorces in Alberta in 2005 (CANSIM Table 101-6501).
185