Sweden s agenda to tackle negative health effects related to problem gambling

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Blanche Roberts
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1 Sweden s agenda to tackle negative health effects related to problem gambling Anna Brooks Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Sweden

2 Three key areas for the organization of prevention and treatment of problems Responsibility Funding Funnd Knowledge

3 Political goals for the gambling policy Ensure sound and safe gambling market Social protection as well as meeting public demand for gambling Financial surplus should be safeguarded A system with monopoly and public control

meeting public demand for gambling Financial surplus

4 The Gambling market in Sweden including foreign operators Offshore on-line companies Svenska Spel Casino Cosmopol 17 Bingo National Lotteries ATG Horse raising Source: Swedish Gambling Authority

Spel Casino Cosmopol 17 Bingo National Lotteries 1

5 Health and social problems related to gambling Swedish population people 2 percent have gambling problem ( ) 1 out of 7 in this group needs treatment (27 000) 5 percent report hazardous gambling problems ( ) Alcohol abuse Poor mental health Many children at risk of insecure upbringing Connected to socio economic factors

000) 5 percent report hazardous gambling problems (485 000) Alcohol abuse Poor mental

6 Prevention and treatment in Sweden today Gambling problems a public health issue National level responsible for disseminating knowledge and promote good quality Regional level responsible for health care Local level responsible for social care Shared responsibility for alcohol and drug abuse Unclear responsibility for gambling problems

Regional level responsible for health care Local level responsible for social care

7 Responsibility for health and social problems related to gambling The Government and national agencies? The gambling companies? The health care and social services? The individual? Compare gambling market with alcohol market: The goal of the Swedish alcohol policy is to reduce the total consumption of alcohol Reduced accessibility is the most effective mean to reduce gambling problems as well as alcohol problems

Compare gambling market with alcohol market: The goal of the Swedish alcohol policy is to reduce the

8 Problem gambling shares risk factors with other addictions and lifestyle problems Supporting childhood conditions General health promotion Strengthen the work of health care and social services Gambling companies provide information and tools to help the individual to make the right decisions

Strengthen the work of health care and social services Gambling companies

9 Funding Gambling a significant source of revenue for governments

10 Knowledge Need to increase public awareness about risks and prevalence of gambling problems Need to spread and support the use of knowledge to professions, NGO s and decision makers for prevention and early detection Need for guidelines and best practice combined with strategy for implementation

professions, NGO s and decision makers for prevention and early detection

11 Conclusions? No Swedish agenda to tackle health problems related to gambling - yet. A future agenda needs to adress how to distribute the responsibility between levels and actors, how to fund interventions and treatment, how to increase public awareness and stimulate the use of knowledge by professions, NGO s and decision makers

levels and actors, how to fund interventions and treatment, how to increase public

12 Reflections or questions? Thank You!

Swedish gaming market

Swedish gaming market Swedish gaming market in need of reform The gaming market needs to be more orderly. A number of the measures presented by the Gaming Inquiry on 15 December, 2008 are therefore as