Accessibility of Video Lottery Terminals in Montréal
Author Information
Author(s): Éric Robitaille, Patrick Herjean
Primary Institution: Université de Montréal
Hypothesis
Is there a significant link between the accessibility of establishments possessing a VLT permit in Montréal and the vulnerability of populations to develop gambling problems?
Conclusion
Accessibility to sites possessing a VLT permit is often linked to the vulnerability of communities.
Supporting Evidence
- The average walking time to a VLT site is nine minutes.
- In some neighborhoods, a VLT site may be within a three-minute walk.
- High vulnerability populations are often located near VLT sites.
Takeaway
This study found that places where people can easily access video lottery terminals are often in neighborhoods where people are more likely to have gambling problems.
Methodology
The study used geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze the walking distance to VLT sites from various neighborhoods in Montréal.
Potential Biases
Potential sampling bias due to exclusion of certain groups in prevalence studies.
Limitations
The study focused only on walking distance and did not consider other modes of transportation.
Participant Demographics
The study analyzed neighborhoods with populations ranging from 400 to 700 inhabitants, focusing on males between 19 and 44 years of age.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website