Rates of Problematic Gambling in a British Homeless Sample: A Preliminary Study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Rates of Problematic Gambling in a British Homeless Sample

T2 - A Preliminary Study

AU - Sharman, Steve

AU - Dreyer, Jenny

AU - Aitken, Mike

AU - Clark, Luke

AU - Bowden-Jones, Henrietta

PY - 2015/6/1

Y1 - 2015/6/1

N2 - Homelessness and problem gambling are two public health concerns in the UK that are rarely considered concurrently, and little is known about the extent of gambling involvement and problematic gambling in the homeless. We recruited 456 individuals attending homelessness services in London, UK. All participants completed a screen for gambling involvement, and where gambling involvement was endorsed, the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was administered. The PGSI risk categories were compared against data from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS). PGSI problem gambling was indicated in 11.6 % of the homeless population, compared to 0.7 % in the BGPS. Of participants endorsing any PGSI symptoms, a higher proportion of homeless participants were problem gamblers relative to the low and moderate risk groups, compared to the BGPS data. These results confirm that the homeless constitute a vulnerable population for problem gambling, and that diagnostic tools for gambling involvement should be integrated into homelessness services in the UK.

AB - Homelessness and problem gambling are two public health concerns in the UK that are rarely considered concurrently, and little is known about the extent of gambling involvement and problematic gambling in the homeless. We recruited 456 individuals attending homelessness services in London, UK. All participants completed a screen for gambling involvement, and where gambling involvement was endorsed, the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was administered. The PGSI risk categories were compared against data from the 2010 British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS). PGSI problem gambling was indicated in 11.6 % of the homeless population, compared to 0.7 % in the BGPS. Of participants endorsing any PGSI symptoms, a higher proportion of homeless participants were problem gamblers relative to the low and moderate risk groups, compared to the BGPS data. These results confirm that the homeless constitute a vulnerable population for problem gambling, and that diagnostic tools for gambling involvement should be integrated into homelessness services in the UK.

U2 - 10.1007/s10899-014-9444-7

DO - 10.1007/s10899-014-9444-7

M3 - Article

C2 - 24452367

SN - 1050-5350

VL - 31

SP - 525

EP - 532

JO - Journal of gambling studies

JF - Journal of gambling studies

IS - 2

M1 - A019

ER -