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Full citation
Williams, R. J., Volberg, R. A., & Stevens, R. M. G. (2012). The Population Prevalence of Problem Gambling: Methodological Influences, Standardized Rates, Jurisdictional Differences, and Worldwide Trends. Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre & Canadian Consortium for Gambling Research. https://www.greo.ca/Modules/EvidenceCentre/files/Williams%20et%20al(2012)The_population_prevalence_of_problem_gambling.pdf
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Region & Target Population
- Region: Canada
- Target population: Adults 18–24 extracted from national and provincial surveys.
Study Design
Large-scale epidemiological synthesis of representative Canadian prevalence surveys. Includes standardized prevalence calculations.
Sample Characteristics (with year collected)
- Combined data from 2001–2010 national and provincial health surveys (CCHS Mental Health Addendum; provincial gambling surveys).
- Total combined sample: 50,000+ adults.
- 18–24 subgroup: thousands across datasets.
Measures Used
- Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI).
- DSM-IV-based screens (SOGS, NODS) depending on survey.
- Standardization performed across measures.
Research Question
What is the standardized prevalence of problem gambling in Canada across age groups, specifically among 18–24-year-olds?
Key Findings (18–24 only)
- Past-year gambling participation: approx.70–75%.
- At-risk/problem gambling (PGSI ≥ 1): 5–7% among 18–24-year-olds.
- Problem gambling (PGSI ≥ 8): 1.0–1.3% among 18–24, higher than older age groups.
- Males 18–24 had rated 2–3 times higher than females.
Study Conclusion
This landmark Canadian epidemiological synthesis confirms that emerging adults (18–24) consistently exhibit the highest rates of at-risk and problem gambling across all adult age brackets. The findings show that even in a country with strong public-health systems, young adults engage heavily in gambling and are more likely to transition into harmful patterns. The repeated appearance of a risk spike in this age group across multiple surveys and methodologies underscores emerging adulthood as a structural vulnerability window, shaped by risk-taking tendencies, new financial independence, and exposure to online gambling. These results form a cornerstone of global gambling epidemiology and reinforce the need for early prevention targeting 18–24-year-olds.
