Problem Gambling Dropping in South Africa
13 Jul 2006
A recent study has brought some pleasing news to the South African gambling industry. The study shows that problem gambling has dropped in the past two years. The professionally conducted study indicated that the occurrence of problem gambling among adults with easy admission to commercial gambling dropped to 4.8 percent from 6.8 percent in 2003.
These updated figures were brought to light from a national problem gambling prevalence study conducted over the past year by the National Center for the Study of Gambling. The study was commissioned by the National Responsible Gambling Program (NRGP). During the program a model of some 3 003 adult South Africans living in the country's central areas with unhindered accessibility to commercial gambling was studied. The study intended to examine whether those who had the opportunities and the means to gamble at casinos had continued to do so even though it was suspected that they were problem gamblers.
The results of the survey are in line with the findings of recently-published National Gambling Board research, which also showed that the frequency of problem gambling in the country had decreased between 2003 and 2005. The NRGP has a comprehensive program for raising public awareness about the risks inherent in gambling. The government has commissioned continued studies in this field.
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