Objective
Determine the prevalence of regular, problematic, and pathological scratchcard gambling among adult scratchcard buyers in the Netherlands.

Method
A random sample of 12.222 buyers of scratchcards were approached in a non-proportional stratified sample of 246 outlets of the Dutch instant lottery. Regular playing implied having bought at least 10 scratchcards in the previous month and having played for at least half a year. Problematic playing was defined as scoring at least 3 points on an adapted version of the South Oaks Gambling Screen. Pathological scratchcard gambling was defined as meeting last-year DSM-IV criteria for pathological gambling, adapted for instant lotteries.

Results
Prevalence estimates of regular and problematic gambling were 28.4% and 2.68% respectively. An estimated 0.24% of scratchcard buyers met DSM-IV criteria for pathological scratchcard gambling. Half of the pathological scratchcard gamblers were also addicted to other forms of gambling. Demographics (young males) and gambling-characteristics (mainly fruitmachine gambling) of these ‘combined addicts’ resembled characteristics of pathological gamblers in general. However, the ‘unique addicts’ (representing 0.09% of Dutch scratchcard buyers) were mainly women between 25 and 34 of age. This group spent relatively small amounts of money on scratchcards; the equivalent of one scratchcard per day.

Conclusions
Results suggest that pathological scratchcard gambling is a relatively rare phenomenon. In about half of the cases symptoms seem to be part of a more general addiction to hazard games. Given the specific characteristics of the ‘unique scratchcard addicts’ and the relatively small amount of money they spent, the appropriateness of DSM criteria for this particular form of gambling can be questioned.

Authors

A. Benschop M.Sc. The Amsterdam Institute for Addiction Research (AIAR)
Keizersgracht 582
1017 EN Amsterdam
phone : +31 (0) 10 5702440
fax : +31 (0) 10 6392473
e-mail : benschop@aiar.nl

M. Koeter Ph.D. The Amsterdam Institute for Addiction Research (AIAR)
Keizersgracht 582
1017 EN Amsterdam
phone : +31 (0) 10 5702440
fax : +31 (0) 10 6392473
e-mail : aiarkg@jellinek.nl

Prof. J. Bethlehem Statistics Netherlands
Division Research and Development
Department of Statistical Methods
Prinses Beatrixlaan 428
2273 XZ Voorburg
phone : +31 (0) 70 3374995
fax : +31 (0) 70 3375990
e-mail : jbtm@cbs.nl