Abstract
Gambling participation and rates of problem gambling change over time in response to a variety of factors including gambling availability, demographic changes and adaptation at individual and societal levels. These relationship are complex and only partially understood. The major aim of the present study was to provide general population estimates of gambling participation and problem gambling for Sweden and compare these estimates with estimates from a previous national study. The study was also designed to identify risk factors for problem gambling including change in these factors over time. Data are from the first phase of the Swedish Longitudinal Gambling Study (Swelogs) in which a representative sample of 8,165 people was assessed using validated problem gambling and other measures to facilitate comparison with findings from the 1997/1998 Swedish Gambling Study (Swegs). Overall, it was found that gambling participation reduced markedly, although in some population sectors increases were evident for some forms including poker and electronic gaming machines. Lifetime prevalence of probable pathological gambling increased; however, past 12 months probable pathological and problem gambling prevalence did not. Males, younger adults and people born outside Sweden were at high risk in both studies. Significant prevalence increases were evident for people aged 18–24 and those with low levels of education. The results indicate that relationships between gambling exposure, participation and problems are dynamic with shifting implications for public health and social policy.
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Acknowledgments
The research reported here was funded and administered by the Swedish National Institute of Public Health. Data collection for the survey was carried out by Statistics Sweden. The authors wish to thank Marie Risbeck of SNIPH, the members of the SNIPH Reference Group and the members of the Swelogs Advisory Group for their hard work in making the Swedish Longitudinal Gambling Study a reality.
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Abbott, M.W., Romild, U. & Volberg, R.A. Gambling and Problem Gambling in Sweden: Changes Between 1998 and 2009. J Gambl Stud 30, 985–999 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-013-9396-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-013-9396-3