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Playing at casinos is a great source of entertainment for many, but for some it can develop into dependency. In 1992 Canadian provincial governments raked in $2.73 billion running lotteries, video lottery machines, casinos, and non-casino slots. Sixteen years later, that number had skyrocketed to over $13.67 billion. Today, that number is even higher. And when you include the amount of money made off Canadians by offshore online casino companies (many of which run their servers off a Native Canadian reserve outside of Montreal) the number is staggering.
Although gambling can be fun in moderation, for some people it can change into a compulsive, problematic behavior that can have permanent consequences on their financial standing, mental health, and overall well-being. If you've started to notice negative consequences from your gambling (such as problems in relationships, financial scares, difficulty focusing on other topics, or other problems), now is the time to reach out for help. Dr.Weiner is a board-certified and licensed psychologist, an addictions treatment specialist and the Director of Addiction Services at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health in Naperville, IL.
Although gambling can be fun in moderation, for some people it can change into a compulsive, problematic behavior that can have permanent consequences on their financial standing, mental health, and overall well-being. If you've started to notice negative consequences from your gambling (such as problems in relationships, financial scares, difficulty focusing on other topics, or other problems), now is the time to reach out for help.
Dr.Weiner is a board-certified and licensed psychologist, an addictions treatment specialist and the Director of Addiction Services at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health in Naperville, IL.
If you've found yourself falling into bad habits, or fear for a friend or loved one who has, learn the signs and take the steps to regain control with our full guide to responsible gambling in Canada.
A problem gambler isn't someone who loses too much. And just because you've won tons of money doesn't mean you don't have a gambling problem. No, problem gambling is a mental health issue that runs deeper than winning or losing.
Problem gambling can affect a person's life. When you have a gambling problem, gambling takes over your whole world. It could get in the way of work, school, or your social activities. It could affect your marriage or relationship. It could damage your reputation. It could cause problems with family members or friends.
And problem gambling can do all this because, for the problem gambler, cards, dice, and spinning reels steal the spotlight while the important things in life fall out of focus and don't get the attention they deserve.
Those wins and loss swings can also make a problem gambler moody, leading to job loss and conflicts with friends in family. And when a problem gambler experiences significant financial loss, they could lose their car, house, and savings - and ultimately their marriage.
According to a recent problem gambling report, about 3% of Canadian adults are affected by problem gambling that can be described as either moderate to severe. The same report said that approximately 70% of Canadian adults have gambled.
How do those numbers break down? According to Statistics Canada, there are about 26.6 million Canadians over the age of 20 (the legal gambling age varies from 18 to 19, depending on the province, and Statistics Canada lumps 15-19 year olds into one population snapshot, so we'll use the age of 20 as our benchmark). If 70% of Canadian adults have gambled, we're looking at 18.6 million Canadians. And if 3% of them have been affected by problem gambling, we're looking at about 500,000.
So does that mean that half-a-million people have a gambling problem? Not really. The 'affected by problem gambling' number includes people who haven't gambled at all. That's because problem gambling doesn't just affect the person holding the chips, it affects their friends, family members, and colleagues. So one person with a gambling problem can affect two, three, five, or even 10 other people who might be casual gamblers or non-gamblers.
There's nothing wrong with hitting a casino. Whether it's Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, Caesars Windsor, another land-based casino across the country, or an online casino, gambling can be fun. But if you find yourself unable to stay away from the gaming floor or from an online casino, you should be concerned.
You might have a gambling problem if you:
If you think you have a gambling problem, online casinos actually do a much better job of getting you help than their land-based counterparts. That's because, aside from a small responsible gambling office that lives outside of the casino entrance, live casinos in Canada don't do a whole lot to help problem gamblers. Sure, they claim to have programs in place, whereby if you add your name and photo to a list, the casino won't let you in. But there have been reports of those programs being ineffective.
“If you find yourself unable to stay away from the gaming floor or from an online casino, you should be concerned.”
Online casinos, on the other hand, have the benefit of technology to keep problem gamblers in check. If you're playing at an online casino, there lots of things you can do to get help with problem gambling.
Have you ever heard a casino player say they're due for a win because they've hit a string of losses? Maybe you've heard someone at a roulette table say so. Or maybe you've said so yourself.
The belief that an outcome of something so seemingly random can become less random and more predictable just because something has happened, or has failed to happen, is called the gambler's fallacy.
Suppose you've kept betting on black at the roulette wheel. And red has popped up seven times in a row. If you're a problem gambler, you might think that betting big on black is the way to go because it's about time you win. That's wrong. Your odds of hitting black are the same as they are of hitting red. The fact that you hit red seven times in a row doesn't change the randomness of the roulette wheel. Believing so is wrong, but lots of gamblers still commit the gamblers fallacy.
Sometimes, it makes gambling more fun. But if you're the type of online casino player who is constantly chasing losses by betting big because you're due for a reversal of fortune, you may have a gambling problem.
If you think you have a gambling problem, or if you know someone who does, you can get professional help through a number of Canadian provincial and national organisations.
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse is a great place to start. Remember, for some, gambling can be just as addictive as a drug. The national addictions agency can steer you towards getting the help you need. Find them online at www.ccsa.ca.
Gamblers Anonymous offers problem gamblers a great support network for talking about and dealing with their gambling problems. Discover more about them at www.gamblersanonymous.org.
PlaySmart.ca: A great online resource that every gamer would benefit from checking out. You'll find tons of information at www.playsmart.ca about all your favourite games, as well as ways to get help when the fun stops and you think you might have a gambling problem.
Problem Gambling Helpline: There are also a number of regional help centres for those afflicted with problem gambling. For instance, www.problemgamblinghelpline.ca is located in London, Ontario and offer help to all Canadian residents. They can be contacted at (519)439-0174 or toll-free 1-888-230-3505.
GA Montreal: Residents of Montreal are invited to seek help through Gamblers Anonymous Montreal . Their contact numbers are (213)386-8789 or in Montreal (514)484-6666. Their meetings are generally held at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 875 Marcil Laurin, St-Laurent, Montreal.
We recommend reading through these resources, even if you don't have a gambling problem. They offer some great advice for responsible gambling, so you can enjoy online casino games the way they were supposed to be enjoyed.
