Japan survey: up to 1.2% have gambling problems

Kanagawa prefecture has reported findings from a survey carried out to discover how many residents may have gambling problems.

Japan.- Kanagawa prefecture has carried out a survey on gambling that found up to 1.2 per cent of people may have gambling problems.

The Health and Medical Bureau of Kanagawa’s prefecture conducted a study of 2,687 residents.

Respondents answered a 20-question questionnaire designed by South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS). Those who answered yes to more than five of questions were considered at risk.

When asked about gambling over the past year, 0.8 per cent of respondents answered positively to five or more questions. The Bureau said it could estimate with 95 per cent certainty that between 0.4 and 1.2 per cent of the population had gambling problems.

When asked to consider lifetime habits, 4.9 per cent answered positively to five or more questions.

The respondents included in the at-risk group spent an average JPY300,000 (US$2,788) a month on gaming, while the median spending was JPY30,000 (US$278) per month.

Most of the spending was on pachinko and pachislo games.

The Japanese national government is still discussing the schedule for the development of integrated resorts (IR) in the country.