Abstract
Changes in demographical and clinical features of treatment-seeking pathological gamblers, and their gambling preferences
before and after the ban of slot machines in Norway from 1 July 2007. Is there an emergence of a new group of gamblers seeking
treatment after the ban? The participants were 99 patients, 16 women and 83 men, with the mean age of 35 years. All were referred
to the Bergen Clinics Foundation, Norway, for treatment of gambling addiction in the period October 2006 to October 2009.
A comprehensive assessment package was applied, focusing on demographical characteristics, the severity of pathological gambling,
mental health and substance use disorder. After the ban the mean age was significantly lower, and significantly more were
highly educated, in regular employment, and married. Internet gambling and a sport betting game called Odds were the most
common options, and gambling problems had become more severe with greater depth due to gambling, bad conscious, heavy alcohol
consumption, and more suicidal thoughts and attempts. After the ban of slot machines, the characteristics of treatment-seeking
gamblers have been changed, and with great implications for treatment strategies.
before and after the ban of slot machines in Norway from 1 July 2007. Is there an emergence of a new group of gamblers seeking
treatment after the ban? The participants were 99 patients, 16 women and 83 men, with the mean age of 35 years. All were referred
to the Bergen Clinics Foundation, Norway, for treatment of gambling addiction in the period October 2006 to October 2009.
A comprehensive assessment package was applied, focusing on demographical characteristics, the severity of pathological gambling,
mental health and substance use disorder. After the ban the mean age was significantly lower, and significantly more were
highly educated, in regular employment, and married. Internet gambling and a sport betting game called Odds were the most
common options, and gambling problems had become more severe with greater depth due to gambling, bad conscious, heavy alcohol
consumption, and more suicidal thoughts and attempts. After the ban of slot machines, the characteristics of treatment-seeking
gamblers have been changed, and with great implications for treatment strategies.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10899-011-9287-4
- Authors
- Eli Torild Hellandsjø Bu, The Bergen Clinics Foundation, Vestre Torggate 11, 5015 Bergen, Norway
- Arvid Skutle, The Bergen Clinics Foundation, Vestre Torggate 11, 5015 Bergen, Norway
- Journal Journal of Gambling Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-3602
- Print ISSN 1050-5350