Changes in youth gambling after the removal of slot machines in Norway

AIMS - To examine whether the ban and complete removal of slot machines in Norway in 2007 may have led to: a) changes in gambling behaviour and changes in prevalence of problem gambling among adolescents, and b) changes in gambling behaviour among adolescent problem gamblers. DATA & METHODS - Two school surveys were conducted, one before (in 2006) and one after the intervention (in 2008), comprising students aged 13 to 18 years (net samples = 4,912 in 2006 and 3,855 in 2008). Identical measures of gambling behaviour and problem gambling were obtained in both surveys. RESULTS - After the intervention, a small proportion reported that they had changed their gambling behaviour, mainly in terms of having stopped gambling. Comparisons of self-reports of gambling behaviour showed that slot machine gambling had decreased significantly, while gambling on other games had increased, yet frequent gambling on any game had decreased after the intervention. However, the change in prevalence of at-risk and problem gambling differed across instruments. The prevalence of self-perceived gambling problems had decreased whereas the prevalence of at-risk and problem gambling as assessed by SOGS-RA had increased. Among at-risk and problem gamblers frequent gambling and perceived gambling problems were reported less frequently in 2008 compared to 2006. CONCLUSION - The ban and removal of slot machines in Norway was succeeded by a decrease in frequent gambling among adolescents in general as well as among at-risk and problem gamblers.