Help-seeking and uptake of services amongst people with gambling problems in the ACT.

The report will be available below from the 31st October 2011.
http://www.gamblingandracing.act.gov.au/Research.htm

In a recent survey, we found that only about 1 in 5 people with gambling problems had ever received professional help for their problems (Davidson & Rodgers, 2010).  Further, there was worrying evidence that having suicidal thoughts was the main factor distinguishing those who had received help from those who had not. The obvious questions arising from this research are: (1) why do so few people with gambling problems get help? and (2) why is help not sought until problems are so extreme?  Surprisingly, there is a lack of research on these questions.

Therefore, the key objectives of this study were to establish what kind of people get help for gambling problems and what kind of people do not get help, and to investigate pathways and barriers to receiving services. We interviewed service providers and people who identified as having problems with their gambling who had contact with services in the ACT. Information from the 2009 ACT Gambling Prevalence Study was also used to shed light on people with gambling problems who do not seek help.

Profiling Gambling Symptoms in the Australian Capital Territory: Socioeconomic and Demographic Characteristics and Gambling Participation

The report will be available below from the 31st October 2011.
http://www.gamblingandracing.act.gov.au/Research.htm

Australian and international prevalence surveys consistently report that a wide range of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics are associated with problem gambling.  People with gambling problems also tend to bet on a wide range of products.  However, few studies have attempted to disentangle whether specific types or combinations of socioeconomic factors might pose particular risk for gambling problems.  Similarly, the relative contribution of different types of gambling activities to gambling problems has also rarely been investigated. The guiding principle for this project was therefore to disentangle socioeconomic and demographic risk factors, and types of gambling activity, in relation to the occurrence of problem gambling.

The key objectives were to describe the distribution of problem gambling, in terms of:
(1) their demographic and socioeconomic profile; and
(2) information collected on gambling participation.

The research utilised data from the 2009 ACT Gambling Prevalence Study.

Public Opinion on Gambling, ANUpoll

The public sees pokies as part of the problem, and government regulation as part of the solution, according to the latest ANUpoll, released today.

The poll, Public Opinion on Gambling, took a snapshot of Australian attitudes towards gambling and potential government regulation. It found there was considerable support for at least some forms of government regulation – including pre-commitment betting limits – even among people who gamble frequently.

However, the poll also found that the public is concerned that gambling regulation should not go too far. Two thirds of respondents believed people should have the right to gamble whenever they want, while 42 per cent believe the government has no right to restrict a person’s gambling. Only 24 per cent were supportive of a total ban on gambling.

The poll also found that people most often associate gambling problems with playing poker machines, followed by gambling on horse and greyhound races and casino table games. Also, people believe there are too many opportunities for people to gamble.

Among the other findings from the poll are:

• Less than half the respondents thought that gambling activities are advertised responsibly, and only a third thought that gambling regulations are properly enforced.
• Problem gambling is associated, in the public mind, with alcohol abuse, suicide, marital problems, parental neglect and being less compassionate.
• Close to half of respondents (47 per cent) believed that people with gambling problems would be likely to experience discrimination from others.
• While most Australians would know where to turn to get help for gambling problems, 39 per cent said they would not know where to go.

This is the tenth ANUpoll. ANUpoll is a regular survey of Australian public opinion on matters of national importance. It forms part of the mission of the university to conduct research of the highest quality and to engage with government and the community on public policy issues. This poll was conducted by Dr Tanya Davidson and Associate Professor Jonathan Mond from the Centre for Gambling Research at ANU, with Professor Ian McAllister from the ANU School of Political and International Relations. A copy of the poll Public Opinion on Gambling is attached.

ANUpoll-Gambling (PDF - 671kb)