Abstract
The increase in gambling availability and the inclusion of gambling disorder as an addiction in DSM-5 highlight the importance of brief screening measures aiming to identify at-risk gamblers. The current study, using a brief telephone survey, assessed demographic characteristics and gambling behaviors in 2,118 adults. Questions were developed based on DSM-5 criteria for Gambling Disorder and common assessment tools. A 7% prevalence of as at-risk gamblers was identified. Male gender, low monthly income, high frequency of gambling behavior, large amounts of money spent, and gambling to escape from everyday problems or for amusement, specifically for men, were found to be the characteristics that can help in the early identification of at-risk gamblers. Gambling for financial gain and as a way to socialize, age, and employment status were not significant predictors of gambling severity. This study shows that the above characteristics can be assessed easily through phone screening of large populations, aiding in prevention practices to reduce the problematic use of gambling activities.
Highlights
Increased availability of gambling opportunities and the expansion of legalized gambling have been identified as an important public health concern [1] by many countries
Descriptive findings regarding demographic factors involved in gambling severity were largely similar to what was found in a previous epidemiological study [3], suggesting that valid descriptions of the gambling situation can be obtained through a brief, low-cost telephone survey
The number of participants who identified as at-risk gamblers (7%) is in agreement with the previous epidemiological study [3], which identified 6% of the participants as pathological/problematic gamblers; it agrees with that study in terms of the most common gambling activities of Cypriots
Summary
Increased availability of gambling opportunities and the expansion of legalized gambling have been identified as an important public health concern [1] by many countries. The increase in gambling is true for the Republic of Cyprus, a European country with a population of 875,899. Increased prevalence of gambling in Cyprus is indicated by the fact that there are >506 betting stores, i.e., at least 1 per 1,731 citizens, when considering only this form of gambling activity (personal communication, National Betting Authority). One unpublished epidemiological study, conducted with face-to-face interviews on a random sample of the population, examined gambling behavior in Cyprus [3], which was funded by the country’s National Betting Authority, in an attempt to characterize and describe gambling in this country. The study was descriptive, providing initial frequency estimations of problematic gambling, and showing that 13% of Cypriots present
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