A recent government survey conducted by the Australian Gambling Research Centre at the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) revealed that Australians aged 18 to 34 experience higher risks of gambling-related harm than any other age group. The study also exposed the spending habits of individuals within this age bracket, averaging AU$1,453 per month on all forms of gambling.
Even the lure of sought-after deals such as no deposit free spins bonuses available on popular websites like NoDepositQuest.com need to be used with caution. Gamblers know it can be easy to become consumed with excitement when engaging in an enjoyable game with potential for money gains, which explains why 89% of participants in one study published by National Gambling Trends Study fell under this category.
More Startling Results
Individuals of similar ages were found to enjoy online gambling due to its ease and accessibility, spending an average of AU$886 monthly on it. Furthermore, according to government studies 82% met criteria for at-risk gambling–such as having no control over gambling-related expenditure — making them susceptible to harm associated with their addiction.
27% of participants reported that they use credit cards to finance their gambling habits – something the country has been striving to ban in an attempt to prevent people from betting with money they do not have. Additionally, 13% admitted to seeking out unregulated offshore gambling services within the past 12 months, exposing themselves to greater risks of identity theft and fraud.
Unfortunately, the study also uncovered that fewer than 7% of the respondents sought help to address their problematic gambling habits, despite the government’s efforts to promote resources designed to aid these individuals. This includes initiatives such as Gambling Harm Awareness Week, which runs from October 16 to October 22.
Call For Change
Rae Kaspiew, research director for Australian Institute of Family Studies stated that this research proves the necessity of change. She called on the government to introduce measures aimed at preventing gambling-related harm, or at the very least, actively reducing it. Kaspiew suggested a credit card ban as an effective solution to mitigate the growing epidemic, citing successes in other parts of the world. For instance, the GB Commission considers their ban, implemented in 2020, a success.
Kaspiew also recommended the introduction of a self-exclusion register, a strategy increasingly favored by countries such as the UK, Denmark, and Sweden. A self-exclusion register not only provides support for individuals experiencing harmful gambling-related behaviors by allowing them to take a break from the activity for a specified amount of time and regroup, but many of these services also extend support to family members by offering free support lines to help guide them through the process.
Next Steps
Researchers from the institute believe the findings from this study, combined with those found in their latest report on poker machine gambling and its effect on individuals, will assist authorities with combatting Australia’s rising gambling problem more swiftly. It’s not the only effort towards change; earlier this year the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Social Policy and Legal Affairs proposed banning advertisements of all forms for three years as part of an attempt at reform.
As one of the world’s largest betting markets, the country cannot continue to overlook how Australians are increasingly struggling with addiction, necessitating more support. In fact, new data reveals that Australians outspend citizens of every other country when it comes to online gambling, underscoring the need for tighter restrictions. Moreover, Australia is also regarded as the world’s biggest gambling nation in terms of losses per individual, attracting its fair share of criticism over the years and facing accusations that major casinos were involved in money laundering schemes.
Moving forward, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth will need to decide whether they will act on the recommendations of the study and determine whether they will be adopted in full or in part.
Author’s Bio:
Mathematician and Data Analyst, Pauline Lemar relishes research papers and any news updates revolving around facts and figures. She eats sleeps and breathes numbers, so when it comes to anything requiring a detailed analysis or investigation, she’s in her element!
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