Abstract
Background
In the province of Québec, video lottery terminal (VLT) gambling has proliferated under government control since 1993. The aims of this study were to describe the spatial distribution of video lottery terminals (VLTs) in the municipalities of Montréal and Laval and to identify neighbourhood socio-economic conditions associated with their distribution.
Method
Locations of all establishments holding VLT licences in Montréal and Laval (n=834) were geocoded by their street address. Boroughs (n=49) were characterized by socio-economic indicators (unemployment, educational attainment, lone parenthood), a neighbourhood distress index, and measures of VLT prevalence, VLT adoption and VLT density.
Results
VLT prevalence, adoption and density were strongly correlated (p<0.01) with lower borough socio-economic conditions. Although liquor establishments were also more likely to be located in poorer neighbourhoods, the adoption rate of VLT licences by bars in poorer neighbourhoods was systematically higher than in more affluent ones.
Conclusions
The spatial distribution of VLTs in Montréal and Laval closely reflects local geographies of socio-economic disadvantage. Any public health effort to reduce the burden of gambling-related health and social problems must recognize the spatial distortion of gambling opportunities in the urban environment.
MeSH terms: gambling, geographic factors, social environment, geographic information systems
Réumé
Contexte
Au Québec, les appareils de loterie vidéo (ALV) prolifèrent sous le contrôle de l’état depuis 1993. Notre étude décrit la répartition spatiale de ces appareils dans les municipalités de Montréal et de Laval et les conditions socio-économiques dans les quartiers où trouve les ALV.
Méthode
Les emplacements de tous les établissements titulaires de licences d’ALV à Montréal et à Laval (n = 834) ont été codés selon leur adresse de voirie. Les bourgs (n = 49) ont été caractérisés selon des indicateurs socio-économiques (chômage, niveau d’instruction, monoparentalité), l’indice de détresse du quartier et des mesures de la prévalence, de l’adoption et de la densité des ALV.
Résultats
La prévalence, l’adoption et la densité des ALV présentaient une forte corrélation (p<0,01) avec les bourgs où les conditions socio-économiques étaient inférieures. Les débits de boissons étaient aussi plus susceptibles de se trouver dans les quartiers pauvres, mais néanmoins, le taux d’adoption des licences d’ALV dans les bars des quartiers pauvres était systématiquement plus élevé que dans les quartiers mieux nantis.
Conclusions
La répartition spatiale des ALV à Montréal et à Laval correspond étroitement à la géographie locale des milieux socio-économiques défavorisés. Tout effort déployé par les autorités de santé publique pour réduire le fardeau des problèmes sanitaires et sociaux liés au jeu devrait donc tenir compte de la distorsion spatiale des possibilités de jeu en milieu urbain.
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