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Victorian Gambling Screen

Two gambling screens are most commonly used by Australian and international researchers to assess and identify problem gambling:

• the South Oaks Gambling Screen
• the Canadian Problem Gambling Index.

A study to develop the Victorian Gambling Screen was commissioned by the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation in 2001. The study was designed to measure the extent of problem gambling within the context of the Australian culture. The aim was to produce a local preliminary instrument to monitor harmful gambling that would:

• determine the harm to others as well as self
• assess the enjoyment derived from gambling.

The Victorian Gambling Screen (2001)

The aim of this initial study was to develop a local, preliminary instrument that could be used in surveys of the general population to assess the extent of problem gambling and for people presenting for problem gambling treatment or assistance in a clinical setting. The instrument needed to be adaptable for use in diverse communities, and for different modes of administration. These goals were confirmed in a broad-based consultation. The instrument that developed out of this process is called the Victorian Gambling Screen (VGS).

Further research was commissioned by the Gambling Research Panel (GRP) to:

• identify current gambling patterns and perceptions (Victorian Longitudinal Community Attitudes Survey)
• evaluate the Victorian Gambling Screen (Measuring Problem Gambling - Evaluation of the Victorian Gambling Screen and Validation of the Victorian Gambling Screen).

Measuring Problem Gambling - Evaluation Of The Victorian Gambling Screen (2003)

In 2003, a detailed review was undertaken of the VGS and the following problem gambling measurement tools:

• the South Oaks Gambling Screens (Lesieur and Blume 1987)
• the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (Ferris and Wynne 2001a)
• the DSM–IV diagnostic criteria (American Psychiatric Association 1994)
• the GA 20 Questions (Gamblers Anonymous 1984)
• Life Area Measures (Smart and Ferris 1996).

2003 Victorian Longitudinal Community Attitude Survey (2004)

The significant finding of this survey is that large numbers of Victorians continue to experience problems associated with their gambling. Therefore problem gambling remains an important issue for public policy.

The survey was conducted in April and May 2003 using Victorian residents, a significantly larger random sample than previous Victorian gambling surveys. Non-gamblers, non-regular gamblers and regular gamblers were interviewed about their gambling behaviour and their attitudes to gambling and its impact on the community.

Validation Of The Victorian Gambling Screen (2004)

The study was set up for further comparative evaluation of three screens:

• the Victorian Gambling Screen
• the Canadian Problem Gambling Index
• the South Oaks Gambling Screen (version 5+).

Further information

The research reports relating to the Victorian gambling screen can be downloaded from this site.

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Author:	Flinders Technologies Pty Ltd, Flinders University, Adelaide
Place of Publication:	Melbourne
Publisher:	Department of Justice
Date of Publication:	October 2001
Number of Pages:	166
Copyright:	State of Victoria 2001