Category: Articles

What’s the big problem with gambling?

Gambling might seem like it is not a problem in Ontario. With lotteries, slot casinos, charity bingos, sports pools and other types of gambling there are lots of ways for people  to take a chance. And people are taking chances on Ontario’s multi-billion dollar gaming industry.

For most people, gambling is an exciting and relaxing way to win a little money or to socialize with friends. For others, gambling becomes a force that tears their family, financial, work and social lives apart.

When is gambling a problem?

If the thrill of the big win becomes more important than spending time with loved ones, if gambling affects work performance,  or if debts grow and grow and it seems like  they’ll never disappear, gambling may be a problem.

This site is designed to provide you with information about what problem gambling is and to recognize the signs and symptoms that there may be a problem.

What can I do?

Get informed and learn

First of all, learn about gambling and the differences between gambling and problem gambling.

Ask Yourself

Take one of the tests that are included and see if you or someone you care about might have a problem

Get Help

Beating a gambling problem can be a real challenge but the odds are in your favour!   Learn how to gamble safely and how to help someone you care about to set limits with their gambling. If you don’t know where to turn,  this multilingual website has been designed specifically to provide help in your own language.

Niagara Multilingual Prevention/Education Problem Gambling Program

905-378-4647 x32503
[email protected]

All our services are free and particular attention has been placed on confidentiality.

This page is also available in: English, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Italian

Ethno-cultural communities are under-represented in gambling treatment. The lack of appropriate culturally sensitive counselling services, as well as the issue of language means that these populations don’t have equal access to services and therefore they may be in a more vulnerable situation.

According to the 2006 Census, (www.statscanadaCanada has welcomed more than 14 million immigrants since 1901, over 1 million arriving in the last 5 years.  The  number and percentage of foreign born in Canada has steadily increased since 1986.  In Toronto 45.7% of the population are foreign born and over 200 different ethnic groups were reported.  The percentage of foreign  born also increased in other cities, in St. Catharines-Niagara 18.3%, London 19.3%, Kitchener 23.1% and Windsor 23.3%, Hamilton 24.4% , Guelph 20.4%, etc. Taking into consideration these demographics, it is important to consider the needs of these communities in regards problem gambling service delivery.

As stated in the 2004, Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, CAMH, “Provincial Diversity Needs Assessment Report”,  “the proportion of diverse ethnocultural/ethnoracial populations in Ontario has increased significantly, culturally and linguistically appropriate services are still few in number.  Diverse ethnocultural/ethnoracial communities often have different beliefs and attitudes toward mental health, mental health problem and substance use, and different opinions about what constitutes an appropriate model of treatment.  Western ideas about mental health problems and addiction are not always applicable to people from other cultural backgrounds.  A participant from the Rwandan community explains, “There is no concept of mental health in our community…. And there is terminology for addiction”.  Focus group participants wanted outreach to diverse ethnocultural/ethnoracial groups… as well as the development of language-specific and culturally sensitive approaches for these populations.”

However, due to the increase in gambling venues in Canada and globally, more research on gambling and ethno-cultural communities is necessary. During the recent years, we have seen a great emphasis regarding problem gambling and members of different ethno-cultural communities and their families.  As of May 2001, the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre (OPGRC) has awarded $1.6 million for research focusing on special populations., including ethno-cultural groups. Various organizations such as COSTI Immigrant Services, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, CAMH, and the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre have conducted research among different ethno-cultural communities.   One can have access to “Addressing Problem Gambling in Toronto and Windsor/Essex County Ethnic communities and Exploration of Cultural Perceptions (gamblingresarch.org) and “Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Gambling and Problem Gambling in the Hispanic, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Tamil and Vietnamese Communities in the Greater Toronto Area” full reports, by linking the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre (gamblingresearch.org)  and or COSTI Immigrant Services (costi.org)

The results of the above mentioned research will be a great help to overcome the information gap regarding ethno-cultural groups and gambling.   More information will hopefully lead to the development of better, culturally and linguistically effective practices for the assessment and treatment of problem gambling for ethno-cultural populations.

There are many different types of gambling and gambling facilities:

• Casinos
• Charity Casinos
• Race Tracks
• Bingo Halls
• Lottery and/or Tickets Outlets
• Hospital Lotteries
• Convenience Gambling
• First Nations Gambling [casinos on reservations or territories, radio bingo]
• Church and other fundraising games
• Off-Track betting
• Unsanctioned games such as cock fighting or dog races
• Pari-mutuel Wagering [harness racing]
• Simulcasting and Account Wagering [betting on boxing matches, horse races and other events occurring somewhere else]
• Sports Wagering
• Internet / On-line

Sometimes gambling takes the form of charitable fundraising. 50-50 draws, school raffles, service club draws, stag and doe parties, penny sales, hospital lotteries and other games might seem like a great way to raise money for a good cause. However, these types of games are just as addictive as other forms of gambling and can lead to the same problems for the gambler.

What’s the big problem with gambling?

Gambling might seem like it is not a problem in Ontario. With lotteries, slot casinos, charity bingos, sports pools and other types of gambling there are lots of ways for people  to take a chance. And people are taking chances on Ontario’s multi-billion dollar gaming industry.

For most people, gambling is an exciting and relaxing way to win a little money or to socialize with friends. For others, gambling becomes a force that tears their family, financial, work and social lives apart.

When is gambling a problem?

If the thrill of the big win becomes more important than spending time with loved ones, if gambling affects work performance,  or if debts grow and grow and it seems like  they’ll never disappear, gambling may be a problem.

This site is designed to provide you with information about what problem gambling is and to recognize the signs and symptoms that there may be a problem.

What can I do?

Get informed and learn

First of all, learn about gambling and the differences between gambling and problem gambling.

Ask Yourself

Take one of the tests that are included and see if you or someone you care about might have a problem

Get Help

Beating a gambling problem can be a real challenge but the odds are in your favour!   Learn how to gamble safely and how to help someone you care about to set limits with their gambling. If you don’t know where to turn,  this multilingual website has been designed specifically to provide help in your own language.

According to the “Provincial Diversity Needs Assessment Report, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, CAMH, 2004 report, service providers across the province indicated that many clients do not receive the health care they need, this problem is even worse for diverse communities, because of their unique needs and the additional systematic barriers they face in accessing services… most agencies that provide settlement services to new immigrants and refugees do not have the capacity to recognize and deal with clients’ mental health and/or addiction problems.  In addition, service providers often have difficulty referring non-English speaking clients for treatment, because very few facilities provide interpreters and/or programs and services in languages other than English.

In the same report, the shortage of culturally competent health care professionals, as well a general lack of cross-cultural understanding as a significant barrier to accessing services was indicated, participants in focus groups pointed out that there is relatively few primary health care workers and professional trained in regards diversity and cultural differences.  They also stated the need of appropriately trained doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.  Members of ethno-racial and cultural diverse communities indicated that their cultural and linguistic needs are not acknowledged or taken into consideration in the provision of treatment or services.  Most felt the need to express themselves, in their own language and in a culturally appropriate environment, to health professionals who could understand and respond in their language.  Many focus groups viewed racism and homophobia not only as significant barriers to service access but also as major contributors to lack of care, to inappropriate and improper care, and indeed directly to an increase in addiction and mental health problems.  Racism was identified as one of the barriers that prevent members of ethno-racial and cultural diverse populations from accessing mainstream services.

It was also noted in the above mention report by focus group participants, that in communities where casinos operate, there s an increased in mental health and addiction problems, with few new resources to address them.  Participants also noted the lack of community leadership, cohesion and inclusiveness, lack of funding and low policy priority, as well as lack of attention to social determinants of mental health and addiction affecting diverse communities.

To reduce gaps in services, the following are some of the recommendations that most focus groups participants noted were more important:

• Provide culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and services and resources
• Development of  more specific materials that are culturally appropriate, clearly written, removing clinical jargon, and in different languages, to inform diverse community about mental health and addiction education and services
• The use of community radio, videotapes, cable TV, churches and religious institutions, as important routes for education, health promotion and communication.
• Provide alternative approaches to mental health and addition services, such acupuncture, yoga, meditation, etc. vs too westernized and medication-focused existing programs
• Re-train and hire foreign-trained physicians and other professionals
• Share information among service providers that pertains to diversity, including inter-community best practices
• Develop public awareness and media campaigns to reduce stigma in diverse communities.
• Reach out and engage in partnerships with ethno-racial and cultural diverse populations

As A. Blaszczynski, concludes in his article “Gambling Problems in a Multicultural Society”, of a research done in Australia, “In order to achieve better outcomes for ethnic clients, therapists must accommodate cultural differences and specific cultural needs of ethnic clients.  The cultural background of ethnic clients provides hem with a context for actions and interactions with other.  This context will have embedded in it culturally based beliefs, values, attitudes and role requirements.  Awareness of the influence of culture will allow therapists to gain more relevant information from ethnic clients by asking more appropriate questions and allow for more culturally appropriate interventions.”

These practices must include:

• Outreach
• Developing partnerships and/or coalitions
• Prevention and awareness programs
• Counselling in various languages
• Language- specific publications
• Increased collaboration with service agencies working specifically with ethno-cultural groups, especially with Multicultural Centres and/or settlement service agencies. Groups in Ontario

In my successful working experience with members of ethno-cultural communities and their families, I have learned that attitude is more important than knowledge.   Our attitude can open the doors to connect and create a bond with our clients in receiving the message properly and engage in treatment, or it can block communication at both ends.  It is essential to form an essential culturally competent relationship with our clients.  Learn about your individual clients customs such as eye contact, greetings, what is permissible and what it is not, and how is the family decision making process.  Working in partnership and/or very closely with ethno-cultural communities is a key element for developing effective and alternative mental health practices to address the issue of problem gambling.  Building successful and lifetime alliances with ethno-cultural clubs and organizations, Multicultural Centres and other agencies serving newcomers are very important to build trust and be able to engage members of these communities

These are Tips that I used when working with members of ethno-cultural communities

• Have a map of the world
• Learn about your own culture and ethnicity
• Enhance your office space with poster/articles/ornaments from other cultures
• Speak with clear and simple language
• Be aware of your body language
• Be aware of your client’s body language
• Introduce yourself 
• Place special attention to your client name
• Place strong emphasis on confidentiality
• Avoid gambling and/or medical lingo, abbreviations, 
• Be aware about your own biases and fears
• Be respectful always
• Be flexible
• Show patience
• If need be, please allow the presence of another family member in the counselling session, just as a support party, not as an Interpreter

If there is need to use an Interpreter, always look for the Interpreter Services and or Cultural Interpreting Services in your community.  These professionals are highly qualified, abide by a code of ethics, and most likely their particular language is their mother tongue, which will benefit the dynamics of the session.  Their role is to facilitate accurate communication between people of different languages and cultures. Avoid using family members, friends, or people who work in your organization and that have the language but not the training, certification, competence, fidelity, and impartiality as a Certified Interpreter.  This practice can cause confusion, waste of time, and extra stress for the client and service provider.  Place strong  emphasis in the confidentiality of the services.

Please follow the below guidelines when using an Interpreter

• Make sure you have your client’s permission to use and Interpreter
• Meet with Interpreter and/or Cultural Interpreter in advance to clarify roles
• Allow extra time for session
• Speak directly to your client
• Speak clearly and in shot sentences using plain language
• Avoid the use of jargon, Abbreviations or acronyms
• Provide clarification and explanation
• Make sure that the message that you intent to convey is understood
• Try to use alternative, inclusive holistic approaches to treatment
• When using assessment tools, remember that some people may have subjected in the past to interrogation methods, and being questioning may increase stress and fear
• Make sure that client understood time and date of next meeting
• At all times and circumstances be respectful
• Thank your Interpreter and client
• Debrief session with Interpreter after client is gone, if need be
• Evaluate your session
• Evaluate yourself
• Provide professional training and resources focusing in education in cultural competency anti-racism and diversity issues as part of in-service and professional development opportunities.

Si gioca per l’eccitazione e il divertimento che procura. Alcuni giocano sperando di vincere denaro, sognano la “grande vincita” che potrà realizzare tutti i loro desideri. Alcuni giocano per divertimento, ad esempio per passare una serata fuori con gli amici al casinò o al bingo, oppure per dare un aiuto finanziario a enti di beneficenza che organizzano le lotterie, ad esempio acquistando occasionalmente un biglietto. Altri giocano solo perché amano la sfida, l’ambiente e l’eccitazione del gioco d’azzardo.

In base agli studi del Centro per le dipendenze e la salute mentale (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – CAMH), gli adulti dell’Ontario che non hanno un problema di gioco, vi partecipano per i seguenti motivi:

• Vincere denaro
• Socializzare
• Divertirsi
• Passare il tempo

Secondo il CAMH, persone con vari retroterra culturali giocano d’azzardo per le seguenti ragioni:

• Per socializzare
• Per evadere dai problemi e dall’isolamento
• Per socializzare con membri del loro gruppo culturale         
• Per riguadagnare la loro posizione sociale
• Per celebrare festività religiose

This page is also available in: Inglese, Arabo, Cinese, Somalo

Progression of gambling phases

Robert Custer, a leader in gambling psychology, has identified three phases to the progression of gambling:

• Early Stage Dependence (Winning Phase)
  In this stage, the financial rewards or the internal escape received as a result of gambling behaviour provide sufficient motivation for the behaviour to continue
• Middle Stage (Losing Phase)
  Losses begin to stack up, gamblers start “chasing” their losses, which cause the gambling behaviour to become more out of control.
• Late Stage (Desperation Phase)
  In this final stage, the gambler becomes overwhelmed.  There are extreme emotional, financial and family/relationship problems.  Criminal behaviour may occur, with possible legal consequences.

There are many different types of gambling and gambling facilities:

• Casinos
• Charity Casinos
• Race Tracks
• Bingo Halls
• Lottery and/or Tickets Outlets
• Hospital Lotteries
• Convenience Gambling
• First Nations Gambling [casinos on reservations or territories, radio bingo]
• Church and other fundraising games
• Off-Track betting
• Unsanctioned games such as cock fighting or dog races
• Pari-mutuel Wagering [harness racing]
• Simulcasting and Account Wagering [betting on boxing matches, horse races and other events occurring somewhere else]
• Sports Wagering
• Internet / On-line

Sometimes gambling takes the form of charitable fundraising. 50-50 draws, school raffles, service club draws, stag and doe parties, penny sales, hospital lotteries and other games might seem like a great way to raise money for a good cause. However, these types of games are just as addictive as other forms of gambling and can lead to the same problems for the gambler.