How problem gambling effects families
Gambling in Canada is big business. Statistics Canada reports that gambling brought in over $13 billion in revenue in 2008.1 The decisions of British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces to allow government-sanctioned online gambling are a sign that governments still want more.
Those in favour of this progression argue that “problem gamblers” are just a trifle in the context of the expected profits. A 2009 report found that 3.2 per cent of Canadian adults are either moderate or severe problem gamblers.2 According to Statistics Canada, this represents approximately 828,000 individuals 19 and over.3 When we acknowledge that each one of those problem gamblers has a family we begin to see the social costs associated with problem gambling. In short, government sanctioned gambling in Canada is causing problems as governments chase after increasing revenue.
The purpose of this paper is to bring to light the negative effects of gambling on the families of Canadian problem gamblers. One province-wide study in Nova Scotia attempting to track social and economic costs of gambling was shelved by the government for unclear reasons.4 Further research is required to conduct a comprehensive analysis of gambling in Canada.