ANROWS library Collection: This reading list explores the complex relationship between gambling and domestic, family, and sexual violence.

Bets 'n' booze research summary: Intersections of gambling and alcohol use among Australian youth and young adults

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Bets 'n' booze research summary: Intersections of gambling and alcohol use among Australian youth and young adults Authors: Sakata, Kei; Jenkinson, Rebecca; Vandenberg, Brian; Greer, Nancy; Wickramasinghe, Sethini; Jatkar, Uma Abstract: This research summary examines the intersection between gambling and alcohol use among Australian youths and young adults aged 16–35. It investigates social contexts, harms, and predictors of co-consumption, revealing that licensed venues create environments where gambling and alcohol are frequently co-consumed. Socialising with friends or family is a common motivation for this behaviour, and early initiation of these activities is linked to greater harms later in life. Despite the risk of gambling-related harm, most respondents did not seek help. The study presents policy implications aimed at reducing co-consumption and encouraging help-seeking among young people.

Understanding gambling harms in the digital age

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Understanding gambling harms in the digital age Authors: Holland, Kate; McGuinness, Kieran; McCallum, Kerry Abstract: This report explores the evolving nature of gambling harms in the digital age, with a specific focus on public health messaging and community awareness. The research incorporates mixed methods, including surveys and interviews, to develop an evidence base for future public policy and communication strategies. The report highlights the growing importance of digital platforms in gambling and the need for targeted interventions to mitigate harm in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

This report documents findings and recommendations from the ‘Understanding Gambling Harms in the Digital Age’ research project (2022-2024) funded by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission’s Harm Prevention and Mitigation Fund.

The research aimed to explore community knowledge and awareness of gambling harms and to develop an evidence base for public communication strategies to inform the Commission’s work in educating the public about gambling harm.

Structure of the report

Section 2 reviews contemporary national and international research on gambling harm and the shift from what has been a focus on ‘problem gambling’ and ‘problem gamblers’ as the evidence base for the harmful effects of gambling, to a public health approach that recognises the full spectrum of gambling harms within the community. This includes any negative outcomes of gambling behaviour impacting on financial, relationship, health, emotional, work, cultural or criminal circumstances of the gambler or those associated with the gambler. The report discusses evidence regarding the prevalence and types of harms of different modes of gambling, attitudes and beliefs about gambling and gambling harm, gambling advertising and different harm prevention and communication strategies.

Sections 3 and 4 focus on the research findings which show many participants view gambling as harmful to the community but they also recognise that gambling is a normalised activity and part of everyday life, work, social and family relationships for many people. Many believe gambling advertising normalises gambling as a fun and social activity and support further restrictions in this area. Participants tend to associate harm from gambling with financial and relationship harms, extreme consequences and addiction. Stereotypes about who experiences gambling harm were evident and stigma was seen as a barrier that may prevent people from recognising harm, talking about it and seeking help.

Section 5 of the report details findings of the final phase of the research, which involved developing and testing messages about gambling harm based on findings from earlier research phases. The themes ‘gambling harm can affect anyone’ and ‘gambling products, services and advertising are designed to keep you spending’ had the most engagement, resonance and impact with focus group participants. We discuss elements of gambling harm messages that worked and why.

The final section of the report synthesises the research findings and provides 10 recommendations and advice on messaging content, design and implementation to assist the Commission in its efforts to reduce gambling harm through public health communication and education activities.

Seeking solace in gambling: The cycle of gambling and intimate partner violence against women who gamble

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Seeking solace in gambling: The cycle of gambling and intimate partner violence against women who gamble Authors: Hing, Nerilee; Mainey, Lydia; O’Mullan, Catherine; Nuske, Elaine; Greer, Nancy; Thomas, Anna; Breen, Helen Abstract: This study explored women’s gambling in response to male intimate partner violence (IPV). Twenty-four women were recruited through service providers and online advertising. All women had been victimised by IPV and all experienced problems relating to the gambling on electronic gaming machines (EGMs).

Thematic analysis of their in-depth interviews identified three major themes. The main pattern of gambling and IPV (Theme 1) was where ongoing coercive control preceded the woman’s gambling. Situational violence in response to gambling was also observed. Regardless of temporal sequence, a self-perpetuating cycle of gambling and IPV victimisation was typically apparent, with both issues escalating over time.

Reflecting severe traumatic violence, push factors from IPV that motivated the women’s gambling (Theme 2) included physical escape, psychological escape, hope of regaining control over their lives, and gambling to cope with the legacy of abuse.

Pull factors attracting these women to gambling venues (Theme 3) appeared to have heightened appeal to these victims of IPV. These included venues’ social, geographic and temporal accessibility, allowance for uninterrupted play on EGMs, and the addictive nature of EGMs.

These push and pull factors led to these women’s prolonged and harmful gambling while exacerbating their partner’s violence. Concerted efforts are needed to assist women in this cycle of IPV and gambling, prevent violence against women, and reduce harmful gambling products and environments. Description: Open access

Problem gambling and economic abuse against women: An adaptive grounded theory analysis

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Problem gambling and economic abuse against women: An adaptive grounded theory analysis Authors: Hing, Nerilee; Nuske, Elaine; Breen, Helen; O’Mullan, Catherine; Mainey, Lydia; Thomas, Anna Abstract: Problem gambling provides a strong motivation for perpetrating economic abuse. This study explores the interaction between problem gambling and economic abuse, and how this economic abuse is reinforced by other forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) and underpinned by gendered drivers of violence against women. Interviews were conducted with 18 women with lived experience of economic abuse perpetrated by a male partner with a gambling problem and analyzed using adaptive grounded theory. The women reported that their partner subjected them to numerous forms of economic exploitation (e.g. fraudulent use of her credit card) and economic control (e.g. preventing her from accessing money) to fund his gambling. Patterns of psychological and physical abuse reinforced this economic abuse. Gendered drivers of this violence underpinned this behavior including their partner’s perceived entitlement to subordinate, control, and manipulate them. The resulting financial stress undermined the women’s capacity to leave the relationship, extending their victimization and deprivation. This integrated exploration highlights that problem gambling and gendered drivers of violence interact to create a context where economic abuse and other forms of violence are perpetrated to obtain money for gambling. Interventions by gambling operators, financial institutions, and support services are needed to reduce gambling-related economic abuse.