A Quebec study has found that free specialized gambling-disorder treatment is being underused, with more than 2,300 patients followed for 13 years averaging fewer than two treatments each.
According to McGill University and the Douglas Research Centre, the researchers linked addiction-centre records with other provincial health data to examine how patients used services and what factors were associated with repeat treatment. The paper was published in the Journal of Gambling Studies and supported by Fonds de recherche du Québec — Société et culture.
The study said public specialized gambling addiction treatment services are underused in Quebec, pointing to a need to better reach people with gambling disorder. Even with free access, the average level of care remained low over the full follow-up period.
Marie-Josée Fleury said gambling disorder should be approached as a chronic condition for some patients, comparable to substance-related disorders. The researchers said it is not something that can be resolved in a single treatment and often requires sustained, long-term care.
Among people who accessed treatment, about 42% had multiple admissions. People who gambled online had about a 15% higher rate of treatment admissions than those who did not.
Ovidiu Tatar said online gambling is associated with a higher risk of relapse and repeated treatment because it makes it easier to act on impulse. The study also found that people with mental health conditions were more likely than other gamblers to return for multiple treatments.
Researchers said mental health conditions can take priority, making gambling problems less likely to be addressed. People who sought treatment on their own were also more likely to return for multiple treatments.
Tatar said it is important to encourage people to recognise the problem and seek help earlier. He added that many people do not disclose gambling issues and doctors do not always ask.
Because gambling problems are less visible than substance use, they can go unnoticed for years without screening. The researchers also said gambling disorder carries a high risk of suicide and other social and health problems.
The McGill release placed the findings against a wider boom in online betting, with more people able to place bets through apps and websites, especially on major sports events. It also said nearly three in 10 Canadians worry someone they know may be addicted to sports betting, while 69% believe problem gambling will increase as betting options expand.
The World Health Organization says commercial gambling has grown massively in recent decades, fuelled by ready online access, and that this growth has been associated with more problem gambling and related harms. In a discussion paper, it said there is an urgent need to put gambling on public health agendas and extend early intervention and treatment provision.
