A study conducted by McGill University and the Douglas Research Center, published in the Journal of Gambling Studies, found that people with gambling addiction in Quebec rarely use the province’s rehabilitation services.
What Did the Study Find?
The study investigated several factors associated with the frequency of admissions for gambling disorder treatment at specialized addiction centers over 13 years, including gambling types and overall use of health and social services. The researchers analyzed medical records from 14 of Quebec’s 16 specialized rehabilitation centers and linked them with the province’s administrative health and social services databases.
According to lead author Marie-Josée Fleury, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, the findings are based on a clinical sample rather than a population-based sample. She explained that previous research suggests that only about 10% of people with a gambling disorder seek help from specialized treatment services.
However, that proportion may reach as high as 50% among chronic gamblers. Despite that, Fleury noted that, overall, individuals with gambling disorders used rehabilitation centers fewer than twice over the studied period, indicating relatively limited engagement with specialized treatment services.
The study also found that easy access to online betting, particularly sports betting through websites and mobile apps, can intensify the challenges faced by people with gambling addiction. At the same time, online gamblers were about 15% more likely to use support services than those who gambled through other means.
Although the data indicated that 10% of participants identified as online gamblers, Fleury said this figure is likely an underestimate. She noted that previous research has shown online gamblers tend to experience more severe gambling-related problems and may develop chronic addiction more rapidly. According to Fleury, the convenience, privacy, and unrestricted nature of online gambling allow people to gamble for extended periods without many of the limitations associated with land-based gambling.
What Should Be Done About the Issue
Fleury said her primary recommendation is to expand screening for gambling-related problems across the healthcare system. She pointed to emergency departments as a key setting for early identification, noting that many patients who present with alcohol or drug-related disorders may also have a gambling addiction.
Screening these patients and encouraging them to seek treatment early on. In addition, referring them to outpatient services could help ensure they receive appropriate care without relying on emergency departments for ongoing treatment.
Fleury also called for greater involvement from liaison nurses working in emergency departments and hospital wards. Furthermore, she emphasized the important role of family physicians. According to a systematic review, they do not routinely screen for gambling problems or refer patients to specialized treatment services often enough.
Quebec has been dealing with a surge in problematic gambling behavior, which has increased youth gambling as well, and experts have been calling for reforms of the province’s system as a remedy to all of this.