title: Impact of a Casino Opening on Gambling Behaviors of People Engaged in Methadone Maintenance.
abstract: This study examined gambling behavior in the context of a newly opening casino, comparing disordered gamblers to non-disordered gamblers, in a population of individuals involved in methadone maintenance treatment. Disordered gamblers (N = 50) and non-disordered gamblers (N = 50) were surveyed before and after the opening of a new casino on gambling behaviors, substance use, and psychological symptoms. No statistically significant changes in gambling behaviors were observed for disordered gamblers or non-disordered gamblers across time points; however, non-disordered gamblers demonstrated non-significant increases in horse and dog race betting, electronic games, and casino table games. As expected, disordered gamblers were found to spend significantly more money on electronic games and casino table games (p < 0.05) and demonstrated higher rates of drug use and impulsivity than non-disordered gamblers. The introduction of a new casino did not appear to have a major impact on gambling behaviors of individuals attending methadone maintenance treatment, though the non-significant increases in gambling among non-disordered gamblers may indicate that this population is preferentially impacted by the opening of a new casino. Future investigation into the longer term effects of opening a new casino on this population may be warranted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatric Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 737 W. Lombard St., Room 516, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmer-Bacon
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatric Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 737 W. Lombard St., Room 516, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States.
authors.forename: Haley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miles-McLean
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 5900 Waterloo Rd., Columbia, MD, 21045, United States.|Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 655 W. Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Welsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 5900 Waterloo Rd., Columbia, MD, 21045, United States.
authors.forename: Loreen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rugle
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatric Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 737 W. Lombard St., Room 516, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Medoff
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatric Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 737 W. Lombard St., Room 516, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatric Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 737 W. Lombard St., Room 516, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States. shimelho@psych.umaryland.edu.|Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 5900 Waterloo Rd., Columbia, MD, 21045, United States. shimelho@psych.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Himelhoch
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008691:Methadone
keywords: Casino opening; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Version 5; Gambling behaviors; Gambling disorder; Methadone maintenance treatment