Table 2 Types of costs of problem gambling in Sweden. Types of costs and their causality adjustment factors (%). A factor of 20% means that total costs were multiplied by 0.8 to discount costs by 20% in cases of an unclear causality
Type | Description | Causality adjustment factor* |
|---|---|---|
A. Direct costs | ||
A.1. Treatment and care | ||
Treatment of gambling problems | Public and private costs for treatment and work by non-profit organizations | 0% |
Treatment of consequences of gambling problems | Public and private costs for treating mental illnesses and suicide attempts | 20%/50% |
A.2. Debt counseling and management | ||
Debt counseling | Costs for debt counseling | 20% |
Debt management | Costs for debt recovery, debt restructuring, and personal bankruptcy | 20% |
A.3. Crime and legal costs | ||
Police | Costs for investigations of crimes | 20% |
Courts | Costs for criminal cases in general courts and social insurance-related cases in administrative courts | 20% |
Prisons | Costs for incarceration | 20% |
A.4. Prevention, research, and regulation | ||
Prevention | Costs for prevention of gambling problems | 0% |
Research | Costs for research on gambling problems | 0% |
Regulation | Costs for regulation and supervision of the gambling market | 93% |
A.5. Other direct costs | ||
Divorce | Costs for divorce applications | 50% |
Recruitment | Recruitment costs of employers | 50% |
Homelessness | Costs for homeless shelters | – |
B. Indirect costs | ||
B.1. Reduced workplace productivity | Productivity loss from reduced workplace productivity | 20% |
B.2. Absence from work | Productivity loss from sick leave and from incarceration | 20% |
B.3. Unemployment | Productivity loss from unemployment | 50% |
B.4. Premature death | Productivity loss from suicides | 20% |
C. Intangible costs | ||
C.1. Physical violence | Reduced quality of life of the gambler and other household members from physical violence | 20% |
C.2. Emotional distress | Reduced quality of life of the gambler and other household members from mental illness, suicide attempts, separation, and unemployment | 20%/50% |
C.3. Harm to crime victims | Reduced quality of life and damage to victims from crime exposure | 20% |