McGill Study Finds Low Use of Quebec Gambling Treatment

MONTREAL: Quebec’s public gambling addiction treatment services remain underused, according to a new study by McGill University and Douglas Research Centre researchers.

The findings point to gaps in screening and outreach as online gambling access expands and gambling disorder becomes harder to detect early.

The study on gambling disorder treatment admissions followed more than 2,300 people with gambling disorder over a 13-year period. Researchers found that despite free access to specialized public addiction treatment services in Quebec, patients averaged fewer than two treatment admissions during the study period.

Researchers Call for Long-Term Care

The study was led by researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Research Centre. Senior author Marie-Josée Fleury, a professor in McGill’s Department of Psychiatry, said gambling disorder should not be treated as a condition that can be resolved through a single treatment episode.

“Gambling disorder is not something that can be resolved in a single treatment. It often requires sustained, long-term care. We need to approach it as a chronic condition for some patients, comparable to substance-related disorders”, Fleury said.

Fleury also said gambling disorder carries a high risk of suicide and other social and health problems. Researchers said that makes earlier detection and stronger continuity of care especially important for patients with repeated admissions or chronic gambling disorder.

The study analyzed records from addiction treatment centers and linked them with other provincial health data. Researchers examined how patients used services and which factors were associated with repeated treatment admissions.

Online Gambling Linked to Repeat Admissions

Among people who accessed treatment, about 42% had multiple admissions. Researchers also found that people who gambled online had about a 15% higher rate of treatment admissions.

Ovidiu Tatar, a postdoctoral researcher and co-author of the study, said online gambling can make relapse risks harder to manage because players can act quickly on gambling urges. “Online gambling makes it easier to act on impulse, which can increase the risk of relapse and repeated treatment,” Tatar said.

The findings come as online betting continues to grow across Canada. Ontario already has a regulated online gambling market, while Alberta is preparing to launch its own regulated online gambling market in July.

That growth has increased concern among researchers and public health advocates about whether treatment and prevention systems are keeping pace. A recent Angus Reid Institute poll found that nearly three in 10 Canadians worry someone they know may be addicted to sports betting, while 69% believe problem gambling will increase as betting options expand.

Screening Gap Remains a Concern

The study also found that people with mental health conditions were more likely than other gamblers to return for multiple treatments. Researchers said those conditions can take priority in health care settings, making gambling problems less likely to be identified or addressed.

Patients who sought treatment on their own were also more likely to return. Researchers said that points to personal motivation as an important factor in prevention, treatment engagement and relapse management.

“It’s important to encourage people to recognize the problem and seek help earlier”, Tatar said. “Many don’t disclose gambling issues, and doctors don’t always ask. Because gambling problems are less visible than substance use, they can go unnoticed for years without screening.”

The findings reinforce the need for stronger responsible gambling screening and referral pathways, especially in primary care and mental health settings. Researchers said gambling disorder can remain hidden for years unless clinicians ask direct questions and patients are encouraged to disclose gambling-related harm earlier.

For Quebec, the study suggests that free public treatment alone may not be enough to reach people with gambling disorder. Earlier screening, better referrals and sustained long-term support may be needed to close the gap between available services and actual treatment use.

RELATED TOPICS: Responsible Gambling