Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. The estimated response rate was 31 percent. Gambling problems were measured using the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen. The participants were asked to report their gambling both for one year prior to their incarceration and for the past year.
The independent variables were demographics age, gender and marital status , substance use alcohol, smoking and narcotics and crime-related factors crime type, prison type and previous sentence. Past-year pre-conviction problem gambling prevalence was Age, gender, smoking, alcohol or illicit drug use were not associated with past-year problem gambling before sentencing.
One-third of the prisoners One-quarter 24 percent of all participants showed an interest in receiving support by identifying one or more support preferences. The most preferred type of support was group support in its all forms. It is recommended that correctional institutions undertake systematic screening for potential problem gambling, and implement tailored intervention programs for inmates with gambling problems.
This study provides a deeper understanding of problem gambling in prisons. Problem gambling is associated with crime and also seems to be linked with serving a previous sentence. Early detection and tailored interventions for problem gambling may help to reduce reoffending rates.
It is estimated that problem gambling is five to ten times higher in the adult correctional population than in the general population Turner et al.
