Gambling in Canada: some insights for cost-benefit analysis

In recent years, the size and scope of legalized gambling in Canada has risen sharply. This increase has taken place in a chaotic fashion, and largely in the absence of a clear picture of what the net benefits might be. This paper describes distinguishing features of gambling in Canada. It then summarizes the emergent state of extant cost-benefit analyses, and presents the case for more comprehensive evaluations of the economic, social, and health outcomes. A greater emphasis upon interdisciplinarity and alternative research paradigms is indicated. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.