• In Ontario, 4.8 per cent of adults (449,000 people) have moderate or severe gambling problems. An additional 9.6 per cent (860,000 people) are classified as “at-risk” for problem gambling.
  

• Only a small percentage of people who have gambling problems use Ontario’s specialized counselling services.

• The 2001 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey (OSDUS) reported that 8.3 per cent of youth were at risk for any gambling problem, and 2.7 per cent were at risk for pathological gambling. Rates of pathological gambling increased among OAC students between the 1999 OSDUS (1.8 per cent) and the 2002 OSDUS (5.7 per cent).

• Men and women are equally likely to gamble, but men tend to spend more money.

• Problem gambling prevalence rates are higher for people with a history of mental illness or substance use problems.

• A 2001 survey for the Responsible Gambling Council found that one in six Ontario adults report a problem resulting from either their own or another person’s gambling. Families may experience financial difficulty, emotional distress and physical illness.

• According to estimates from the United States, one person in five who experiences problems related to gambling will eventually file for bankruptcy (National Council on Problem Gambling and National Endowment for Financial Education). In a Quebec study, 28 per cent of people with severe gambling problems had declared bankruptcy and one-third had debts between $75,000 and $150,000. A further 35 per cent were about to declare bankruptcy.

• A CAMH survey was conducted in March 2002 with 26 Ontario credit counselling offices. Twenty-one surveys were completed. Respondents indicated that, on average, 14 per cent of their clients had financial problems related to gambling. The true number is likely higher, because gambling problems are typically under-reported.

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