Casino proximity, visit frequency, and gambling problems

ABSTRACT

The geospatial impact of casinos on gambling problems is poorly understood, despite its importance to policy decisions. In this study, we propose a conceptual model to describe how access relates to gambling problems and we test whether access convenience increases risk. We collect a large sample of Canadian gamblers (n = 6,234) and geolocate each individual relative to domestic casino locations (N = 110), using their home addresses. Our analysis suggests that nearby casinos increase risk for residents. We further find that frequency of play mediates the relationship, implying an indirect link between access convenience and gambling problems. The results are robust to several estimation strategies that address endogeneity issues found in the empirical literature.

KEYWORDS:

• Casino
• gambling exposure
• access convenience
• travel time
• adaptation
• gambling disorder

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Funding sources

No funding sources were declared by the authors in relation to this manuscript.

Constraints on publishing

No constraints on publishing were declared by the authors in relation to this manuscript.

Competing interests

Since 2015, Kahlil Philander has received research funds from the Washington State Gaming Commission, Manitoba Gambling Research Program, UNLV International Centre for Gaming Regulation, U.S.-Japan Business Council, Wynn Resorts, Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. He has received consulting payments from British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Responsible Gambling Council of Canada, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, West Virginia Lottery, Indiana Gaming Commission, Intralot, and iDevelopment and Economic Association. He has received reimbursement for travel from the Northeast Asia Economic Association Forum, National Council for Problem Gambling, International Association of Gaming Advisors, National Centre for Responsible Gambling, North American State and Provincial Lottery Association, Evergreen Council on Problem Gambling, Global Gaming Expo Asia, and Alberta Gambling Research Institute.

Nassim Tabri has received consulting fees from the gambling industry in Canada, the US, and the UK via GamRes Limited—a research and consultancy service that designs, implements, and evaluates responsible gambling strategies. He has also received research funds from Gambling Exchange Ontario (GREO).

Dr. Michael J. A. Wohl has received research funding from federal granting agencies in Canada and Australia unconnected to his gambling research. In relation to his gambling research, he has received research funds from provincial granting agencies in Canada. He has also received direct and indirect research funds from the gambling industry in Canada, United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, and Sweden. Additionally, he has served as a consultant for the gambling industry in Canada, United States of America, United Kingdom, and New Zealand. A detailed list can be found on his curriculum vitae (http://carleton.ca/bettermentlabs/wp-content/uploads/CV.pdf).

Over the last 20 years, Dr. Richard Wood has been funded to undertake responsible gambling projects for more than 50 gaming companies, regulators and government organizations world-wide. These projects have included; research funds to develop responsible gambling tools, funds to evaluate existing responsible gambling tools and consultancy fees to apply research evidence to assist the gambling industry to develop responsible gambling initiatives and/or to assess the possible risk of proposed gambling products for players who may be at an increased risk for developing a gambling problem.

Preregistration statement

No preregistration was declared by the authors in relation to this manuscript.

Data availability statement

Casino location data is available upon reasonable request. Other data may be restricted for public use. Interested parties should contact the authors who will assist in facilitating access.

Notes

1. We thank a reviewer for identifying that one of the PGSI questions is related to increased visitation and may produce some recursive results, ‘did you go back another day to try to in back the money you lost?’ We re-estimated Table 4 without that question contributing to the PGSI score and produced similar results (not shown but available upon request).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kahlil Philander

Kahlil Philander is an Assistant Professor in the School of Hospitality Business Management. He also holds an appointment as an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Sydney. His research interests are in gambling economics. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, an MA in economics from the University of Toronto, and a BCom with Honors in finance from the University of British Columbia.

Nassim Tabri

Dr. Nassim Tabri is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University. His research is focused on etiological and maintenance factors underlying addictive and other high-risk behaviours.

Richard Wood

Dr. Richard Wood is a psychologist who specializes in the study of gaming behaviour. He has published numerous gambling related articles, presented his findings at conferences and seminars around the world and undertaken research and gaming consultations for more than 80 gaming companies and regulators. His research focuses on developing and evaluating responsible gaming strategies.

Michael Wohl

Dr. Michael Wohl is a Professor of Psychology at Carleton University. Work in his Carleton University Gambling Laboratory focuses on, among other things, factors that predict disordered gambling (e.g., erroneous beliefs, financial focus), facilitators of responsible gambling (e.g., monetary limit setting and adherence), and means to overcome barriers to behaviour change (e.g., nostalgia for life lived before the addiction behavior hold).