Oregon Problem Gambling Helpline

Quick Facts

Gambling has become part of the Oregon landscape, culture, and economy. Oregon has more forms of legalized gambling and offers easier access to gambling than almost any other state. Consider the following statistics from 2005-2006 (Moore and Marotta, 2006, in press):
Of the 1,700 gamblers that received publicly funded treatment in Oregon in 2005-2006, the following gambling related
consequences were reported:

• Average gambling debt: $23,331.
• 28.4% had alcohol related problems.
• 23% of clients reported committing crimes to obtain gambling money.
• Over 18% had suicidal thoughts and up to 9.8% have made attempts.
• 10.7% more gamblers were treated in 2005-2006 than were treated in the previous year.
• Nearly 69% of the problem gamblers who enrolled in treatment reported their game of preference was video poker followed by slot machines at 14%.
• The statewide Problem Gambling Help Line received 2,129 calls for help or information and 93% resulted in referrals for service.
  
• Nearly 51.8% of problem gambling clients worked full-time; the average annual household income was $36,495.
• Problem gamblers reported that their primary gambling location was lottery retailers (69.9%) followed by Indian Gaming Centers and casinos (17.3%).
• Treatment programs that are within 50 miles of a casino treat two and one half times the number of casino problem gamblers than other programs.
  

Financial Impacts

According to Earl Grinols, 2004, the average social-economic cost of problem gamblers was approximately $3,000 each and $11,000 for each pathological gambler – or an estimated social-economic cost in excess of $449 million for Oregonians.

Those entering in Oregon treatment had combined debt related to gambling of over $27.6 million.

Oregon Prevalence Estimates

More than 74,000 Oregon adults (2.7% of adults) are believed to meet the criteria for being current problem or pathological gamblers (Moore, 2006).

One in every 25 Oregon teens (13-17 year-olds) experienced gambling-related problems; that’s more than 10,000 Oregon teens (Carlson & Moore, 1998).

One in ten teens is an “at-risk” gambler (he or she may be developing a gambling problem). About 6,000 Oregonians over 62 years old (1.2%) are believed to meet the criteria for problem or pathological gambling (Moore, 2001).