Nearly two-thirds of Canadians 15 and up report gambling, data shows
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Almost two-thirds of Canadians aged 15 and up reported gambling. The study found that higher rates of gambling addiction occur in Indigenous communities. Drew Lafond, president of the Indigenous Bar Association, believes the statistics don't cover the generational trauma that fuels addictions. He grew up on Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. He felt the impacts of residential schools and colonial policies. For many Indigenous community members, operating casinos on-reserve is part of reclaiming their right to run a business in a culturally safe space.
Andrée Busenius has been in recovery from gambling addiction for more than 14 years. She is an educator and member of Alberta's Problem Gambling Resource Network. She believes Alberta has a gambling culture that makes it hard for recovering addicts to stay on track. Nearly two-thirds of Canadians 15 and up report gambling. Gifting is the only addiction the network fundraises from.
