Gambling behavior and gambling problems in Norway 2007

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of psychology Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 333 - 339
• Main Authors: BAKKEN, INGER JOHANNE, GÖTESTAM, K. GUNNAR, GRÅWE, ROLF W., WENZEL, HANNE GRO, ØREN, ANITA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-08-2009
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders - epidemiology; Female; Gambling - psychology; Gambling behavior; gambling problems; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Norway; Norway - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; survey; Norway
• ISSN: 0036-5564; 1467-9450
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2009.00713.x

In Norway, legalized gambling is pervasive, easily accessible and socially accepted, particularly the participation in national lotteries. We conducted a stratified probability sample study during January–March 2007 (age group 16–74 years, N = 3,482, response rate 36.1%) to assess gambling behavior and prevalence of problematic gambling by the NORC Diagnostic Screen (NODS). Overall, 67.9% of the study population had been engaged in past‐year gambling and 0.7% were past‐year problematic gamblers (NODS score 3+). Male gender, low educational level, single marital status, and being born in a non‐Western country were variables positively associated with problematic gambling. Past‐year problematic gamblers indicated the slot machine (34.6%) and Internet gambling (26.9%) as the most important games, while most non‐problematic gamblers pointed out the lotteries (62.3%) as the most important game. The prevalence of self‐reported sleeping disorders, depression and other psychological impairments was significantly higher among problematic gamblers. Gambling problems affect people's lives in multiple ways.