In Pursuit of Empirically Based Responsible Gambling Limits

Abstract

The present study sought to (1) obtain expert opinion on the importance of low-risk limits for the field of gambling; and (2) establish the face validity for a tentative set of low-risk limits empirically derived from a recent analysis of population data on gambling (Currie et al., 2006). Gambling experts (171 researchers, clinicians and policy-makers in Canada and the United States) completed an online or paper survey to assess their support for the concept of low-risk gambling limits, their opinions of existing responsible gambling guidelines and the face validity of tentative low-risk limits for gambling frequency, dollars spent, percentage of gross income spent on gambling and duration per session. The majority of those surveyed endorsed the need for low-risk limits and rated the limits as being face valid. Concerns voiced pertaining to their dissemination to the public included the potential for creating a false sense of security among gamblers, encouraging people to gamble and difficulties in applying the limits across different forms of gambling.

Acknowledgements

Work on this project was funded by grants from the Alberta Gaming Research Institute and the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre. The investigators also thank Erin de Denus and Jordyn Karltyn for assistance in data collection, and Anja Karvinen and Natalie Miller who helped in manuscript preparation.