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Patterns and trends in gambling participation in the Quebec population between 2009 and 2012

  • Quantitative Research
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Abstract

Objectives

To describe gambling practices and trends in Quebec between 2009 and 2012 given that, in Canada, public funding allocation to address the risks associated with gambling practices should be based on valid prevalence data and knowledge of patterns and trends in vulnerable populations.

Methods

The study data were taken from the 2009 and 2012 cross-sectional waves of the Enquête sur les habitudes de jeu des Québécois (ENHJEU-Québec). The analytical sample consisted of 11,888 respondents in 2009 and 12,008 respondents in 2012.

Results

The prevalence of lifetime non-gamblers in the adult population of Quebec increased from 1 3.6% in 2009 to 16.4% in 2012, and past-year gambling participation decreased from 70.5% to 66.2%. Changes in gambling patterns were not contingent on demographic characteristics; gambling prevalence decreased in all subcategories. The proportion of problem and low-risk gamblers remained unchanged, whereas the prevalence of non-problem gamblers decreased significantly from 66.1 % in 2009 to 61.5% in 2012.

Conclusion

Gambling participation in Quebec is decreasing, though the proportion of problem gamblers remains stable. Given these findings, allocation of public resources for health care services should be maintained. Secondary and primary prevention efforts need to be initiated or maintained to prevent gambling harm.

Résumé

Objectifs

Décrire les pratiques de jeux de hasard et d’argent (JHA) au Québec entre 2009 et 2012, tenant compte du fait qu’au Canada, l’allocation de fonds publics pour la prévention des risques associés aux pratiques de JHA se base sur des données de prévalence valides et les tendances observées dans les populations vulnérables.

Méthodes

Les données proviennent des vagues transversales de l’Enquête sur les habitudes de jeu des Québécois (ENHJEU-Québec) de 2009 et 2012. Les échantillons incluent 11 888 répondants en 2009 et 12 008 répondants en 2012.

Résultats

La prévalence des individus n’ayant jamais joué à des JHA dans la population adulte du Québec a augmenté de 1 3,6 % en 2009 à 16,4 % en 2012, tandis que la participation aux JHA a diminué de 70,5 % à 66,2 % dans la dernière année. Les analyses ne révèlent pas d’associations significatives entre les habitudes de JHA et les caractéristiques démographiques des répondants; la prévalence des JHA a généralement décru pour tous les sous-groupes sociodémographiques. La proportion de joueurs problématiques et de joueurs à faible risque est demeurée inchangée, alors que la prévalence des joueurs non-problématiques a diminué significativement de 66,1 % en 2009 à 61,5 % en 2012.

Conclusion

La participation aux JHA au Québec est en diminution, bien que la proportion de joueurs reste stable. Étant donné ces résultats, l’allocation de ressources publiques pour les services de santé doit être maintenue. Les efforts pour la prévention primaire et secondaire doivent être déployés ou maintenus pour prévenir les méfaits associés aux JHA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Concordia University, 1455, De Maisonneuve West, QC, H3C 1M8, Montreal, Canada

    Sylvia Kairouz PhD & Chantal Robillard PhD

  2. Research Chair on Gambling, Concordia University, QC, Montreal, Canada

    Sylvia Kairouz PhD, Catherine Paradis PhD & Chantal Robillard PhD

  3. Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, QC, Montreal, Canada

    Louise Nadeau PhD

  4. Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), QC, Québec, Canada

    Denis Hamel MSc

Authors
  1. Sylvia Kairouz PhD
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  2. Catherine Paradis PhD
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  3. Louise Nadeau PhD
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  4. Denis Hamel MSc
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  5. Chantal Robillard PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sylvia Kairouz PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgement: We acknowledge Mike Benigeri for his contribution to the statistical analysis. This research received financial support from the Fonds de recherche du Québec - Société et Culture and the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Kairouz, S., Paradis, C., Nadeau, L. et al. Patterns and trends in gambling participation in the Quebec population between 2009 and 2012. Can J Public Health 106, e115–e120 (2015). https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.106.4854

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.106.4854

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