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 most other states. Consider the following statistics from 2006-2007 (Moore, 2007): Of the 1,986 gamblers that received publicly funded treatment in Oregon in 2006-2007, the following gambling related consequences were reported:

• Average gambling debt: $26,099.
• 28.9 percent had alcohol-related problems.
• More than 21 percent of clients reported committing crimes to obtain gambling money.
• More than 21 percent had suicidal thoughts and more than 7 percent had attempted suicide.
• 15.8 percent more gamblers were treated in 2006-2007 than were treated in the previous year.
• Nearly 62 percent of the problem gamblers who enrolled in treatment reported their game of preference was video poker followed by slot machines at 15 percent.
• The statewide Problem Gambling Help Line received 2,435 calls for help or information and 91percent resulted in referrals for service.
• Nearly 50.3 percent of problem gambling clients worked full-time; the average annual household income was $36,040.
• Problem gamblers reported that their primary gambling location was lottery retailers (72.8 percent) followed by Indian Gaming Centers and casinos (14.8 percent).
• Treatment programs that are within 50 miles of a casino treat more than twice 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 an estimated combined debt related to gambling of more than $37 million.

Oregon prevalence estimates

More than 74,000 Oregon adults (2.7 percent 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 10 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 percent) are believed to meet the criteria for problem or pathological gambling (Moore, 2001).