[Slot machine gambling behaviour in East Germany 1990-2000].

TARGET: To test the hypothesis that parameters of slot machine gambling behaviour and related treatment cases have been increasing heavily in the new Länder of Germany (after reunification).

METHOD: Data from the National Population Survey 2000 and from the EBIS Treatment Monitoring System (1998-2000) were compared with figures from previous analyses for 1990-1997.

RESULTS

The percentage of people with gambling experience increased, but the proportion of currently active gamblers decreased. The proportion of frequent gamblers (as an indicator of high-risk behaviour) did not change. The annual average number of new outpatient treatment cases per treatment facility increased, from a low baseline of 1.5 cases, by about 20 %. All figures are still below those for former Western Germany.

CONCLUSION

At least until 2000 A.D., the expected extreme increase in gambling behaviour and related treatment demand did not occur.