The main purpose of the Gambling Survey was to provide policy makers with an accurate estimate of the social and economic impacts of gambling on individuals, families, communities and social institutions. NORC contributed to all aspects of the survey, including design of the instrument (questionnaire), sampling, data collection and data analysis.

The Gambling Study involved five data collection components:

• 2,417 interviews from a sample of 9,700 adults (18 years and older)
• 534 interviews from a targeted sample of 5,000 youth (16-17 year olds)
• 530 intercept interviews of adults (18 years and older) at 21 different gaming facilities (casinos, racetracks, lottery ticket outlets and small service establishments with electronic gaming devices) in 8 states
• a longitudinal database of social and economic indicators and estimated gambling expenditures in a randomized national sample of 100 communities
• 10 community case studies on the effects of one or more large-scale casino openings

NORC conducted telephone surveys of the adult and youth populations by random digit dial and supplemented the telephone survey to the adult population, to those households without a telephone, with self-administered questionnaires. NORC conducted the intercept survey at gambling facilities with an abbrevaited version of the telephone questionnaire and the case studies were based on telephone interviews with 7-8 key individuals in each community.

NORC screened 75.3% of households. The post-screener completion rate was 73.9%.

NORC elicited the support of the American Gaming Association and the National Indian Gaming Association in order to successfully conduct the intercept study.

Results and Data

The National Gambling Impact Study Commission provides access to research findings, including the Commission's Final Report and the two major NORC reports, the Analysis of the Casino Survey and The Gambling Impact and Behavior Study.

The Gambling Impact and Behavior Study, Analysis of the Casino Survey, NODS and scope of work for the survey are also accessible via the NORC website and the library's online catalog.

Principal Investigators and Project Directors

The Principal investigator was Dean Gerstein. The Project Director was Sally Murphy.

Sponsor and Subcontractors

NORC conducted the Gambling Impact & Behavior Study (GIBS) for the National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC). Subcontractors included Gemini Research, The Lewin Group and Christiansen/Cummings Associates.

Contacts

National Gambling Impact Study Commission
800 N. Capital St.
Suite 450
Washington, D.C. 20002
cstaff@btgcinema.com

Gemini Research
PO Box 628
Northhampton, MA 01061-0628
413.584.4667
rvolberg@geminiresearch.com

The Lewin Group
3130 Fairview Park Dr.
Suite 800
Falls Church, VA 22042
703.269.5500

American Gaming Association
555 13th St. N.W.
Suite 1010 E.
Washington, D.C. 20004
202.637.6500

National Indian Gaming Association
224 Second St. S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
202.546.7711