The High Cost of Gambling: Suicides

Nova Scotia government faces calls to further study social impact of gambling
By Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press

HALIFAX — A Nova Scotia woman whose husband had an addiction to video lottery terminals and later killed himself says a government-funded study on the impact of gambling — which included an estimate on suicide rates — shouldn't have been kept from the public for two years.

"The families of people who've taken their lives ... we have a right to know," said Elaine Gabriel, 47.

She was reacting Thursday to the release of a draft report that examined the social harm that gambling causes in the province.

The 2009 study was released with annotated criticisms on Wednesday, accompanied by a statement from the government saying it was so flawed it should be cast aside.

Calgary-based consultant Mark Anielski has defended his work, calling it "a reasonably complete snapshot" of the impact of gambling and acknowledging it was a work in progress that required more data from coroners and police.

The study estimates that about six people a year commit suicide in the province because of addictions to gambling and found high rates of mental and physical health problems in a telephone survey of 55 problem gamblers. It also cited research suggesting high rates of personal bankruptcy linked to gambling.

Gabriel said she's glad the report was released and added she'd like more study on suicide rates.

"It would be interesting to have a more accurate figure," she said.

Gabriel's husband Scott died in 2002. She blames his death on his VLT addiction, which bankrupt the family.

She says at one point, he sold her jewelry to satisfy his addiction.

Labour Minister Marilyn More reiterated Thursday that the draft study wasn't something the province could work with, adding that it would have been irresponsible to release it due to its flaws.

But the government released the study after the province's freedom of information review officer recommended it to do so after appeals by The Canadian Press and Game Over VLTs, an anti-gambling group.

More said Thursday there's no plan to commission a new, independent study.

"No decisions have been made but these are issues of concern and interest to the government," she said.

Leo Glavine, the Liberal gambling critic, says the government should hire an independent consultant to complete the work in Anielski's draft report.

"This delay has allowed government to remain deeply addicted to gambling generally and VLTs in particular as a source of revenue in this province," he said.

Both Glavine and Tory critic Alfie MacLeod said the province should also ensure the coroner keep data indicating the number of suicides and their possible causes.

"Coroners should have the ability to make determinations as to whether or not suicides could be gambling-related and the minister should move forward to commission a study that will allow for this type of research to take place," said MacLeod in an email.

Glavine said the original study's authors were on the right track in pinpointing suicide, health care problems and bankruptcies and linking them to gambling.

"I think six deaths a year due to gambling ... is a small number. I think there are other physical and mental conditions running parallel to a person who is a problem gambler and death comes through other means than outright suicide," said Glavine.

"Anielski was moving on suicides, family disintegration, loss of homes and jobs and the kind of total cost to Nova Scotia which goes well beyond revenues generated for the provincial coffer.

"His work was cut off."

Debbie Langille, a spokeswoman for Game Over VLTs, says that when she was gambling she lost all of her savings and thought frequently about killing herself.

"I often thought about it late at night after a big loss," she said.

The Anielski study echoed findings of previous studies that indicate that VLTs are the main source of gambling addiction in the province.

In announcing its new gambling strategy in March, the government maintained a moratorium on new VLTs.

However, the province still has 2,200 VLTs, while about 600 more are operated through agreements with First Nations bands.

About $99.5 million of $146 million in gambling revenues in 2009-10 came from VLTs, according to government figures.