Gamblers at the Salon de jeux de Québec (Québec City Gaming Hall) spend no more money, gamble less often and experience fewer gambling problems than those who gamble in locations with 5 or 10 video lottery terminals. For the latter, proximity is most often cited as the determining factor in choosing a gambling location, whereas for gamblers at the Salon de jeux, the location's safety is of paramount importance. Indeed, gamblers who frequent the Salon de jeux live further away from their preferred gambling location, compared with gamblers at locations with 5 or 10 video lottery terminals spread across Québec City.
The major impact of this research is the acquisition of pertinent information on gambler profiles.
These are some of the results of a study whose main objective was to examine the differences between gamblers at various gambling locations when it comes to gambling habits, motivations for choosing certain locations over others, the factors influencing this choice and their perceptions of the effect of the environment on their gambling habits.
The major impact of this research is the acquisition of pertinent information on gambler profiles according to gambling location preference. This information could prove important in helping policy makers to provide more appropriate measures for prevention, treatment and the reduction of the harmful effects of gambling on the lives of gamblers. This study could form the basis of future research into the effects of gambling environment on gambling behaviour, in order to better evaluate the problem of gambling availability.
Main researcher: Serge Sévigny, Université Laval
Original title: Effet du nombre d'appareils de loterie vidéo présents par site de jeu sur les habitudes de jeu et les motivations des joueurs
