Survey Says Iowans Gamble Responsibly

A recent telephone survey conducted in Iowa with technical and financial support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that the vast majority of those who gamble in that state do so responsibly.

According to the Iowa Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 38.3 percent of the 3,635 adult Iowans surveyed said they had gambled in the past 12 months. Of this group, 98.7 percent reported no negative consequences financially. Moreover, 99.2 percent said the time they spend gambling has not led to any domestic difficulties. These figures "fall in line with the national data," according to Frank Biagioli, executive officer of the Iowa Gambling Treatment Program.
 
The BRFSS, which was conducted by the University of Northern Iowa as part of an annual Iowa Department of Public Health Survey, found that a small percentage of the state residents polled have experienced financial and/ or domestic woes as a consequence of their gambling activity. But, in general, most people who participate in gaming activity do so responsibly with discretionary dollars earmarked for entertainment.

Biagioli attributes the results of the BRFSS to the state and local efforts that promote responsible gaming activity and raise awareness about problem and underage gambling.

"The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has taken a strong approach to address problem gambling," he said. "Casinos in Iowa are also getting the message out that they are interested in people having fun at their casinos rather than having a problem."

The BRFSS is an ongoing monthly telephone survey developed to help assess state health risks and monitor trends.

Full BRFSS survey results can be found on the Iowa Gambling Treatment Program Web site.