gambling as a factor in 6.3 percent of suicides. In that province, officials investigating a suicide must ask specifically about gambling.

A Nova Scotia study released in October 2004 names problem gambling as a factor in 6.3 percent of suicides. In that province, officials investigating a suicide must ask specifically about gambling.

Statistics from other provinces are lower because investigators do not ask about gambling if no one mentions it. However, in November, the Ontario chief coroner said suicides related to casino gambling will reach a record high in 2004 in that province.

There are no national statistics on suicides and attempted suicides related to gambling addiction. In part, this is because they are very hard to collect. Those investigating or treating an incident may not always pursue gambling as a possible factor. Even if such reporting becomes mandatory, compulsive gamblers and those close to them may hide the problem due to feelings of shame and guilt. In some cases, suicides are disguised as “accidents.”

According to a 1996 report by National Council of Welfare to Canada’s federal government:

Suicide attempts among pathological gamblers are much more frequent than among the general population.

Suicide attempts are more common with pathological gambling than with any other addiction.

Problem gamblers often have other dependencies such as alcohol or drug abuse.

Problem and pathological gamblers tend to be young (under 30).

In a Quebec study of college students, 26.8 percent of pathological gamblers had attempted suicide, compared to 7.2 percent of college students who had no gambling problem.

A survey of Gamblers Anonymous members in the United States found that 48 percent had considered suicide and 13 percent had attempted it.

A 2001 Ontario study found that 3.8 percent of those who had gambled in the past year, or about 340,000 people, had moderate or severe gambling problems. Seven per cent of young Ontario adults (18 to 24 years old) in the 2001 study reported gambling problems – almost twice the rate found in the general population. Of severe problem gamblers, 6.1 percent had considered suicide.

The Most Dangerous Game
Video lottery terminals (VLTs) have been called the crack-cocaine of gambling. Indeed, electronic gaming machines (EGMs) may be the most addictive form of gambling ever invented. Their colours, lights and sounds can drive normal gamblers to bet faster and faster until they become obsessed. It takes only a year to get hooked on VLTs, while it takes almost four years to become addicted to other forms of gambling such as horses, sports betting and blackjack.

VLTs and video slots have become the single largest source of government gambling revenues — and 60 percent of all VLT revenues are known to come from problem gamblers. The slots are a popular attraction in casinos and race tracks, as well as bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, billiard halls and other youth-oriented venues.

A few bar owners have dropped their highly profitable electronic gaming machines after customers who had become compulsive players committed suicide. Such incidents have led to calls for VLTs to be banned in some communities.