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The Focal ALeRT Affordability Index: Finding Overspenders Among Regular EGM Gamblers

Halifax, NS: January 2022 

Highlights

1. Focal has developed a valid and reliable Affordability Index to identify those regular electronic gambling machine players (EGM Gamblers) (i.e., playing slots, EGMs, and electronic roulette at least once a month or more) who are most likely to be spending beyond their means (i.e., Overspenders).
   
   
2. ‘Overspenders’ comprise about 5% of the regular EGM player base suggesting about one in every 20 regular EGM players is at-risk for spending beyond affordable limits.
   
   
3. About one in three Problem Gamblers (PGSI=8+) also score as Overspenders (34.7%) using the Focal Affordability Index; not all Problem Gamblers are spending beyond their means, yet almost all customers identified as Overspenders (92%) were found to score at high-risk for problem gambling making this a priority target group for prevention and harm reduction.