Harvard studies problem gaming

Thursday, Dec. 4, 1997 | 9:52 a.m.

A Harvard Medical School study released today indicates just over 1 percent of the adult population suffers from addictive gambling, the American Gaming Association said.

Gaming opponents have estimated problem gambling affects as much as 11 percent of adults.

The study, conducted by the school's Division on Addictions, found that while "the majority of Americans and Canadians gamble with little or no adverse consequence," there has been an increase from 0.84 percent to 1.29 percent in the estimated rate of "disordered" gambling in the past two decades, the AGA said.

The increase is based on comparison of 18 studies published between 1977 and 1993 and 17 studies published between 1994 and 1997. While the current adult prevalence rate is 1.29 percent, the AGA said, the mean rate over the past two decades is 1.14 percent.

"This study shows that only about 1 percent of the adult population has serious pathological problems related to gambling," AGA President Frank Fahrenkopf said.

"Now that the outrageous claims of 'problem gambling run rampant' by some gaming opponents have been put to rest, perhaps we can take an important first step toward reasoned dialogue about how to help those who do have a problem."

The study also concluded there is "no significant regional variation in the rates of gambling disorders identified across regions of Canada and the United States."

And it said that as gamblers acquire "more knowledge about the activity and this information is disseminated," it's likely there will be fewer disordered gamblers, according to the AGA.

The study confirmed that problem gambling is "significantly higher" among people under 19, the AGA said, though there's been no increase in the rate in the past 20 years.

"It's important to note that the study finds no correlation between legal gambling and the youth prevalence rate," Fahrenkopf said. "In fact, the study shows that most young people gamble on noncasino card games, games of skill and sports events."