|
|
|
Gambling |
|
|
|
| Question. |
What is gambling? |
 |
| Answer. |
In its broadest sense, gambling is risking something of value—usually money—on an uncertain outcome with the chance of gaining something in return. People often associate gambling with places such as racetracks or casinos, where they can bet money on the outcome of a horse race or casino game (e.g., roulette), but gambling can also be done on the Internet, the stock market, or at home with friends (e.g., cards). |
| |
| Question. |
What are some myths about gambling? |
|
| Answer. |
People often hold false beliefs or myths about gambling that make them feel they can influence or predict the outcome of various games. Some of these myths include: - If I keep gambling, my luck will change and I'll win back the money I've lost.
- I almost won; I must be due for a win.
- If I play more than one slot machine or in more than one poker game at a time, I'll increase my chances of winning.
- I have a special strategy that helps me win. I pick certain numbers for the lottery, for example, or press the stop button on a slot machine at exactly the right time.
- If I see a certain card coming up frequently in a poker game, I should bet on it because chances are it will come up again very soon.
- I have a feeling that today is my lucky day. I just know I’m going to win.
For more information on gambling myths and truths, please see Common Myths. |
| |
|
|
|
Problem Gambling |
|
|
|
| Question. |
What is problem gambling? |
|
| Answer. |
Problem gambling is gambling that is done excessively and negatively affects other areas of a person’s life, such as their physical or mental health, school or work performance, finances, and/or interpersonal relationships.
For more information on problem gambling, please click here. |
| |
| Question. |
What are some signs that I may have a problem with gambling? |
|
| Answer. |
There are a variety of signs that may indicate you have a problem with gambling. The more signs you show, the greater the chance of a problem. Some of these signs may include: - Constantly thinking about gambling
- Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money or for longer periods of time in order to get the same kind of rush or excitement
- Spending more time or money on gambling than you can afford
- Chasing losses (e.g., gambling more to win back lost money)
- Borrowing money or selling things in order to gamble or to get out of a desperate money situation caused by gambling
For more warning signs, please click here. |
| |
| Question. |
What are some signs that someone I know may have a problem with gambling? |
|
| Answer. |
There are a variety of signs that may indicate someone you know has a problem with gambling. The more signs they show, the greater the chance of a problem. Some of these signs may include: - Constantly talking about gambling
- Needing to gamble with increasing amounts of money or for longer periods of time in order to get the same kind of rush or excitement
- Spending more time or money on gambling than the individual can afford
- Chasing losses (e.g., gambling more to win back lost money)
- Borrowing money or selling things in order to gamble or to get out of a desperate money situation caused by gambling
For more warning signs, please click here. |
| |
| Question. |
What are some negative impacts of problem gambling? |
|
| Answer. |
Problem gambling can have a variety of negative impacts - on the individual, family and friends, and society as a whole. For detailed information on these impacts, please click here. |
| |
| Question. |
How can I talk to a friend or family member about their problem gambling? |
|
| Answer. |
If you have a friend or family member with a gambling problem, it’s only natural to want to help. The individual, however, may not be ready or willing to admit that they have a problem and may not want to discuss it. For this reason, it’s important to be prepared. Before you approach the person, try to learn what you can about problem gambling, including its warning signs, negative impacts, and options for help and recovery. If possible, speak to someone you can trust about the problem like a counselor, teacher, doctor, or parent; you don’t need to reveal who the gambler is, but you do need to talk about the issue, get some support, and generate a plan of action. Try to gather some evidence of the negative impact of the person’s gambling such as missed bills, absenteeism from work, or deteriorated school performance in case the individual tries to rationalize their actions or deny that they have a problem. If you can, have the contact information of some local counselling services handy in the event that the person agrees they that have a problem and wants help. Whatever you do, the most important thing to remember is that you cannot stop someone from gambling. They have to stop gambling themselves once they are ready and willing to change their behavior.
For more information about how to talk to a friend or family member with a gambling problem, please click here. |
| |
| Question. |
How can I talk to children about their parent's problem gambling? |
|
| Answer. |
Parents who are experiencing gambling-related problems are often unable to provide their children with adequate attention and nurturing because of the amount of time they spend gambling. When this happens, children can feel physically and emotionally abandoned, become angry or depressed, and blame themselves for problems in the home. All of this can cause them to withdraw or act out their confusion in inappropriate ways. To deal with this situation, children need to be made aware of the problem by hearing certain key messages with age-appropriate information. To learn what these key messages are, please see Talking to Children. |
| |
| Question. |
What type of help is available for problem gambling? |
|
| Answer. |
For those who have concerns about their own or someone else’s gambling, there are a variety of options available for information, support, and treatment. Some of these options include. For detailed information on any of the above, including a list of treatment centres available in your area, please click here. |
| |
| Question. |
How can the person with a gambling problem get their finances back under control? |
|
| Answer. |
Problem gambling can drain one’s financial resources, lead to debt and bankruptcy, and cause other financial hardships. Fortunately, there are things that can be done to get finances back under control. Some of these include consulting a credit counselling service, getting a part-time job, and having someone else control finances. For more information on what can be done to get finances back under control, please see For the Gambler: Controlling Debt. |
| |
| Question. |
How can family members of the person with a gambling problem protect the household's finances? |
|
| Answer. |
Problem gambling can lead to debt, bankruptcy, and drain not only the gambler's financial resources, but the resources of other family members as well. Fortunately, there are things that can be done to protect the household’s finances, such as consulting a financial advisor and assuming responsibility for the gambler’s ATM or credit cards. For more information on what can be done to protect household finances, please see For Family Members: Protecting Money. |
| |
|
|
|
Responsible Gambling |
|
|
|
| Question. |
What are self-exclusion programs and how do they work? |
|
| Answer. |
Self-exclusion programs are a type of responsible gambling tool offered by gaming providers that allow an individual with concerns about their gambling to voluntarily ban themselves from certain gaming venues for an extended period of time. While the particular details of self-exclusions programs may vary across jurisdictions, they generally involve the individual first meeting with representatives of the gaming facility and signing an agreement stating that they will not enter the gaming venue(s) for the specified time period.
Once a self-exclusion agreement is signed, the individual typically has their photo taken for distribution to designated gaming employees, their name is entered into a database of self-excluded individuals and removed from the gaming provider’s marketing mailing lists, and the person is denied opportunities to participate in customer reward programs or receive other promotional benefits. Should the individual get caught at the banned venue(s) during the period of their agreement, they may face any number of consequences, ranging from being asked to leave the premises to being charged with trespassing. |
| |
| Question. |
What are some tips for safer gambling? |
|
| Answer. |
For those who choose to gamble, there are some general tips that can help make gambling safer and reduce the risk that problems will occur. Some of these tips include: - Not thinking of gambling as a way to make money
- Only gambling with money one can afford to lose
- Setting a money or time limit on gambling and sticking to it
- Never chasing losses (i.e., gambling more to win back lost money)
- Not gambling when depressed, angry, or upset
- Balancing gambling with other activities
For more information on each of these tips, please see Tips for Safer Gambling. |
| |
|
|
|
Gambling and Problem Gambling in Ontario |
|
|
|
| Question. |
What percentage of people in Ontario gamble? |
|
| Answer. |
On average, approximately 63% of people in Ontario gamble. That includes those who play bingo, go to a casino, purchase lottery tickets, and participate in other gambling activities. (Source: Measuring Gambling and Problem Gambling in Ontario). To see what percentage of people gamble in other Canadian provinces, please see the most recent version of the Canadian Gambling Digest, a report produced by the Canadian Partnership for Responsible Gambling. |
| |
| Question. |
How much money do people spend on gambling in Ontario each year? |
|
| Answer. |
On average, people spend approximately $488 dollars on gambling in Ontario each year. That includes the amount spent on lottery tickets, casino games, and other forms of government-run gambling activities (Source: Canadian Gambling Digest 2003-2004). To see how much people spend on gambling in other Canadian provinces, please see the most recent version of the Canadian Gambling Digest, a report produced by the Canadian Partnership for Responsible Gambling. |
| |
| Question. |
How many people in Ontario have a moderate to severe gambling problem? |
|
| Answer. |
Approximately 340,000 people in Ontario (or 3.8% of the population) have a moderate to severe gambling problem. (Source: Measuring Gambling and Problem Gambling in Ontario). To see how many people have moderate to severe gambling problems in other Canadian provinces, please see the most recent version of the Canadian Gambling Digest, a report produced by the Canadian Partnership for Responsible Gambling. |
| |
|
|
|
Operation and Regulation of Gaming in Canada |
|
|
|
| Question. |
Who regulates and operates gaming in Canada? |
|
| Answer. |
Gaming in Canada is operated and regulated by various government or government-authorized bodies. For a complete list of the operators and regulators in each of the provinces, please see Organization and Management of Gambling in the Canadian Provinces, a report released by the Canadian Partnership for Responsible Gambling in the Fall of 2004. |
| |
|
|
|
Education |
|
|
|
| Question. |
Which colleges across Canada offer addictions counselling programs? |
|
| Answer. |
The following are some Canadian schools that offer diploma or certificate level programs in addictions counselling:
Ontario:
Iona College, at Windsor University
Georgian College of Applied Arts and Technology
George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology
Confederation College of Applied Arts and Tec
Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology
Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology
Saskatchewan:
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
Alberta:
Keyano College
British Columbia:
Northern Lights College |
| |
