46% of gamblers in Australia are “at risk” of gambling negative consequences

A recent study by the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC) revealed that 46% of Australian gamblers are at risk of experiencing negative effects associated with gambling. The study was released amidst a public discussion in Australia about the increase in gambling advertisements across the country. In 2021, national spending on gambling advertising surged to AU$287.2m (£155.7m/€177.3m/US$190.0m), a significant increase from the previous year’s spending of AU$15.9m, according to the Victoria Responsible Gambling Foundation.

The study stated that “concerns about the widespread proliferation of betting advertisements in Australia and its effects on gambling behavior and potential harm have been raised by policy makers, service providers, researchers, and the wider community.”

To increase comprehension and aid in the development of better policy responses, the study surveyed Australian adults on their gambling participation, attitudes towards betting advertisements, the influence of exposure to such advertisements on their behavior, and their opinions on potential policy responses.

Survey results

According to the AGRC survey, gambling is prevalent in Australian society, with 73% of all adults in the country having placed at least one bet in their lifetime. A significant portion of the population, 38%, regularly gamble at least once a week.

The most popular products for betting are lotteries, scratchcards, horse racing, sports, and poker machines, as stated by the Foundation.

The study also demonstrated that men tend to gamble more frequently, spend more money, and are at a higher risk of experiencing negative consequences related to gambling than women. Men gambled more on every product included in the survey.

Attitudes to industry

The AGRC’s survey also included questions about the general attitudes towards gambling in Australia, even among those who do not gamble regularly. A significant majority of the population (77%) agreed that there are “too many opportunities for gambling nowadays.”

Additionally, 68% of Australians believe that gambling can be harmful to family life, and 59% think that it should be discouraged. The majority of respondents reported being regularly exposed to gambling advertising, with 78% encountering it at least once a week in the past year. Approximately 41% of respondents stated they encountered gambling advertisements around four times a week.

The AGRC’s research revealed that young people aged between 18-34 were more likely to be exposed to gambling advertising through social media or online channels, while individuals aged 55 or above were more likely to come across gambling advertisements through traditional media like television, radio, or print.

Support for reform

Individuals who participated in the survey were also asked about their political attitudes towards gambling and gambling advertising in Australia, according to the research institute.

The study revealed that 64% of Australians believed that the government should play a larger role in regulating how wagering is advertised. The Foundation noted that many Australians supported an outright ban on gambling advertising, with 53% of respondents indicating their support for a watershed ban on all advertising broadcast before 10.30pm, as opposed to the 19% who opposed it.

Nearly half (47%) of respondents said that they supported a ban on all social media advertising, compared to the 23% who were opposed. In addition, 42% of people expressed support for sponsorship bans.

The report stated that the findings from the research can help to inform future regulatory and policy responses aimed at reducing gambling-related health, social, and economic harms to affected individuals and communities.