Abstract
In representative telephone surveys of the population to record gambling-related problems, which have been conducted in Germany since 2006, no significant changes have yet been discernible, despite the increased availability of gambling, increased turnover and gross gambling revenues for providers, and increased demand for treatment from problem gamblers. Such population surveys have recently been associated with problems, not only in the gambling field, such as decreasing willingness to participate and accessibility of specific population groups. In the present prevalence study, a mixed-mode design was chosen, consisting of a combined telephone and online survey. The weighting of the samples in a ratio of 2 to 1 was checked against plausibility data. The sample consists of 12,303 complete interviews (telephone: 61%, online: 39%). Results on the 12-month prevalence of gambling participation overall as well as in individual forms of gambling in relation to gender, age, migration background, and access routes are presented, as are findings on gambling disorders with corresponding frames of reference. The discussion of the results is primarily in the context of the new survey methodology.
Implications Statement
In view of the shortcomings of telephone surveys and the advantages of supplementary online surveys, a mixed-mode approach was chosen in which the weighting of the telephone and online sample (web panel) was checked on the basis of plausibility data
