by Hillary LaClair, Senior Editor
April 23, 2009
One of the major arguments pushed by opponents of online poker and gambling legislation is that online gambling, because it is so easily accessible, contributes more to problem gamblers. And now with the economy in turmoil, many anti-gamblers believe that the internet will cause more and more to become addicted to gaming while trying to find alternate means of paying the bills. A study at Harvard Medical School says to the contrary, however, with the Addictions Department reporting that gambling addiction has not increased in the past decades – despite the growing popularity in online gambling.
Dr. Howard Shaffer who is the director of Harvard Medical School’s Division of Addictions says that according to his research online gamblers demonstrate more restraint and control than at land-based casinos and that despite the introduction of online poker and other forms of internet gambling the rate of problem gambling among the general population has stayed relatively the same. Rather, the report states that problem gambling has actually declined from 0.7% in the 1970’s to 0.6% today.
The study has sparked some debate within the industry, especially after Shaffer commented, “In a democratic society, a society that values liberty, most people think they (US players) should have the opportunity to gamble.” Now the conspiracy theories are abound, with opponents of a legalized online gambling industry claiming that the research center is in league with gaming operators.
One organization that commented on the study was the European Gambling and Betting Association, which counts most major European online gambling firms among its members.
The EGBA published a summary of the Harvard findings in its newsletter this week, accompanied by a statement from the secretary general, Sigrid Ligné. "Online gaming inspires polarised and passionate debate, and so has quickly become obscured by myth and innuendo," Ligne wrote. "But when the outcome of this debate could affect Europe's market leadership, people's jobs and freedom of consumer choice, we need dispassionate consideration of the facts.
"This is why the promotion of facts, figures and peer-reviewed research is an integral part of our remit.
"There's an old phrase, 'Don't let facts stand in the way of a good story'. EGBA is ensuring that the 'stories' of those with vested interests don't get in the way of the facts. Our message is simple: clarity over confusion, openness over obscurity, and research over rumour."
The study was, in fact, funded by bwin Poker. Co-CEO Mandred Bodner explains that “Ultimately we are interested in developing algorithms capable of identifying behavioral patterns or identifying risk patterns associated with disordered gaming.”
Two subgroups were identified in the study based on data from 3,445 bwin customers over a two-year period. Ninety-five percent of the sample was male and the average age of the group was 27.9 years old. Approximately 95% of the sample wagered a median of €13 at each of two poker sessions per week during a median duration from first to last bet of six months. A smaller subgroup (5%) of involved poker players wagered €89 at each of 10 sessions per week during a median duration from first to last bet of 18 months.
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