Program findings that inform curriculum development for the prevention of problem gambling
Date
2004-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
National Association of Gambling Studies Australia
Abstract
The development of effective problem gambling prevention programs is in its infancy. The present paper discusses results of randomized control trials of two programs that have been implemented in Alberta, Canada. The first is a 10 session program delivered to several classes of university students taking Introductory Statistics. This program focused primarily on teaching the probabilities associated with gambling and included several hands-on demonstrations of typical casino table games. The second is a 5 session program delivered to high school students at several sites in southern Alberta. This program was more comprehensive, containing information and exercises on the nature of gambling and problem gambling, gambling fallacies, gambling odds, decision-making, coping skills, and social problem-solving skills. Data concerning gambling attitudes, gambling fallacies and gambling behaviour at 3 and 6-months post-intervention are presented. The findings of these studies are somewhat counter-intuitive and have important implications for the design of effective prevention programs.
Description
This is an electronic version of an article published in Volume 16, Number 1 / May 2004 of Gambling Research.
Keywords
gambling education, gambling beliefs, gambling activities
Citation
Gambling Research, 16(1), 47-69.