The Socio-Economic Impact of Gambling (SEIG) Framework: An Assessment Framework for Canada: In Search of the Gold Standard

Abstract

This report deals with the question of what is the best method to measure the social and economic impact of legalized gambling in an early 21st Century society. The specific impact referred to is one that touches the individual gambler, the family or household, and the community, region or province. The authors have developed a framework to address the complex and wide-ranging impact question of what is the positive and negative impact of legalized gambling and, in particular, what are the preventable negative consequences. The construct presented in this report is called The Socio-Economic Impact of Gambling (SEIG) Framework. It is designed to help guide researchers and policy makers to measure, assess and report on the social and economic impact – both positive (benefits) and negative (costs) – of gambling in Canada.