New estimates of adult problem gamblers in Oregon

October 21-- The Oregonian published new results from Oregon's latest adult problem gambling prevalence study. Click here to read the full article, "Little change seen in problem gamblers," by Michelle Cole.


Key Points

More than 75,000 adults in Oregon are problem gamblers, according to a new study released by the Oregon Gambling Addiction Treatment Foundation.

• 2005 estimate of Oregon problem/pathological gamblers: 2.7%
• 2001 estimate: 2.3%
• Study participants: 1,554 adults
  Timeline: study occurred before launch of video slots in May 2005
  

Games of choice:

• Still video lottery (poker).
• The preferred gambling activity among Oregonians has shifted from casinos -- once the preferred choice -- to traditional lottery games.
• More Oregonians are gambling over the telephone and Internet. The study estimates that about 50,000 adults who gambled last year had placed bets via the phone or computer, most of them men.

State-funded gambling treatment:

• From June 2005 to July 2006, 2,056 Oregon residents sought help, often by calling the statewide help line.
• 10 percent increase in the number of people seeking state-funded treatment over the past year since video line games (slots) were introduced.

Lottery sales:

• The Oregon Lottery reported $1.09 billion in sales last fiscal year.
• Video game sales are up almost 27 percent since line games (video slots) were introduced in May 2005.