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Presentation

Session: Posters
Room: TBA
Time: Fri 13:00-14:30

Presenter: Jane Ruseski (University of Alberta. Economics)

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of classes of gambling participants in order to distinguish problem (or disordered) gamblers from recreational gambler and the effect of disordered and recreational gambling on health. We empirically test a new economic model (Nyman, 2004) that posits that gambling is rational because of an additional source of utility in recreational gambling stemming from the unearned nature of winnings. This theory is used to investigate how the characteristics of disordered and recreational gamblers differ. We examine determinants of gambling behavior and the associated health problems and medical care utilization across different classes of gamblers using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).

The CCSH and NESARC data allow us to determine whether the respondent (1) has not gambled recently (representing those that do not gamble), (2) has gambled recently recreationally, or (3) gambled with some level of disorder recently. Limited dependent variable regressions are estimated for no gambling versus gambling, and for those who have gambled, disordered gambler versus recreational gambler. The regressions include demographic and economic variables typically included in studies of gambling behavior like age, gender, race, marital status, health status, educational attainment, work status, occupation and income.

We use our results from these regressions to assign respondents in the NESARC and CCHS data into different classes of gamblers, including recreational and disordered. Using an instrumental variable approach, we investigate the causal relationships between gambling and a variety of health/healthcare utilization variables. With predicted gambling variables derived using instrumental variables, we estimate logit and probit regressions to analyze the effect of gambling behavior on having each of a series of medical diagnoses and health care utilization. The practical significance of distinguishing the determinants of classes of gamblers and their healthcare utilization is that by doing so we may be able to design treatment policies that are directed more precisely at a particular type of gambler. In addition, the comparison of gambling and health outcomes in Canada and the US, where both gambling opportunities and health care delivery systems differ significantly will provide useful information to policy makers in both countries.

Key Terms

recreational gambling; disordered gambling; health status; medical care utilization

Authors:

Jane Ruseski (University of Alberta. Economics) , Brad Humphreys (University of Alberta. Economics) and John Nyman (University of Minnesota. Division of Health Policy and Management)

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