Document Type
Working Paper
Publication Date
2016
College/Unit
Chambers College of Business and Economics
Document Number
16-28
Department/Program/Center
Economics
Abstract
The relationship between gambling and health has important economic and public policy im- plications. We develop causal evidence on this relationship using data from the Canadian Community Health Survey and exploiting regional variation in access to legal gambling. Empirical models treat gambling as an endogenous regressor in explaining regional variation in health outcomes. Results from instrumental variable and bivariate probit models show recreational gambling has no or a negative impact on the probability of having certain chronic conditions and a positive impact on life satisfaction, differing from past studies that find a positive association between problem gambling and adverse health outcomes.
Digital Commons Citation
Humphreys, Brad R.; Nyman, John A.; and Ruseski, Jane, "The Effect of Recreational Gambling on Regional Health Outcomes: Evidence from Canadian Provinces" (2016). Economics Faculty Working Papers Series. 213.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/econ_working-papers/213