Poker chips, dice and playing cards are seen in this file photo. (Pixabay / Pexels) TORONTO — The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) has released new guidelines intended to help Canadians reduce the harm caused by gambling. The guidelines were formed after five years of research into how those who gamble can lower risks, as well as understand when their gambling is starting to become more risky. The CCSA recommends that Canadians gamble no more than one per cent of their household income before tax, gamble no more than four days per month, and keep regular gambling to two or fewer types of games. It’s essential to follow all three guidelines in order to gamble with low risk, the agency said. “Gambling is a legal activity that can pose risks to some people in Canada, including financial hardships, relationship conflicts, emotional or psychological distress, and health issues,” Matthew Young, co-chair of the Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines Scientific Working Group, explained in a press release. “These guidelines will help people in Canada who gamble do so in a way that lowers their risk of experiencing these problems.” The guidelines seem simple, but there is a lot behind them. Researchers analyzed data from more than 60,000 people who gamble across eight different countries, and looked at feedback from more than 10,000 Canadians who answered an online gambling survey. They also interviewed individuals across Canada, spoke to focus groups of people who gamble, and consulted experts in harm reduction, treatment […]
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