New research is suggesting that a greater access to gambling services is resulting in more Australians experiencing gambling-related harm. It seems as though the changing habits brought on by easier access to online gambling are leading to issues for some Australians.
A recent study conducted by the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC) has shown that, according to statistics gathered in a survey, there has been a marked increase in gambling-related harm experienced by Australians over the last 6 years. As the levels of access to gambling have increased, with online platforms offering betting and casino services, it seems reasonable that incidents of gambling-related harm would also increase. Regulators and consumers are looking for ways to manage this increase in access and to protect those vulnerable to gambling harm.
Considering that Australia has the highest per capita annual gambling losses of any country in the world, with $32 billion lost annually on various legal forms of gambling, it suggests that gambling is a popular form of entertainment. Indeed, with the rise of online betting and platforms that offer casino no deposit bonuses, a higher proportion of Australians are engaging in gambling than ever before. But is the gambling they engage in responsible? This new research suggests that a greater emphasis should be put on choosing to gamble responsibly.
Let’s take a closer look at what exactly gambling harm is, why online gambling is so popular and what could be done to reduce incidents of gambling harm.
What Does ‘Gambling-Related Harm’ Mean?
Pretty straightforwardly, gambling-related harm is a shorthand for any number of negative consequences that can arise from gambling. This can include the obvious, such as financial loss and stress, but can also stretch to breakdowns in relationships and addiction. An important part of being aware of gambling-related harm is acknowledging that it usually hurts more than the person suffering from it, rippling to their family, friends and communities.
Another important acknowledgement is that anyone can experience gambling-related harm, not just people with gambling addictions or who play frequently. Key indicators of gambling harm are things like concealing betting activities from those close to you, feeling the need to chase losses or losing track of time while engaged in gambling.
Data from the 2024 AGRC survey suggests that the number of Australians who experience gambling-related harm is close to 15%, which is an increase of 4 percentage points from an earlier 2019 study.
Why Is Online Gambling So Popular?
In recent years, the addition of online gambling and betting options has become an integral part of the gambling entertainment market. Considering that Australia is a country that has had a long relationship with gambling, it should be no surprise that online options are popular. Particularly when it comes to international events and sports like the Olympics and tennis tournaments, Australians love to bet.
Placing bets or gambling online is much more convenient than doing so at a physical venue. There’s no need to leave your house or to engage with other people, and all of the information about odds and different ways to bet is easily accessible. When it comes to sports like tennis, there are also cultures of live betting markets which allow people to bet not just on the game outcome, but on smaller events throughout the match.
Online betting and gambling are also available at any time of day, allowing people with tighter schedules or who work shift work to engage with gambling as an entertainment option, where they previously would be unable to. To be brief, online gambling and betting are popular because they offer the same experiences as more traditional methods, but with far greater convenience.
Why Might Online Gambling be Responsible for the Increase in Gambling-Related Harm?
Interestingly, the reasons behind the suspected link between online gambling and the increase in gambling-related harm are largely the same reasons that online gambling is popular, such as:
- The convenience of online gambling. Making it so easy to access has made it easier for people to engage with it in an unhealthy manner.
- Online gambling is private. Because many forms of online gambling are a private and isolated activity, it can make it easy for people to lose track of time, and there is no one else to call them back to themselves.
- Directly targeted marketing. Thanks to the use of analytics and data-powered algorithms, online platforms are able to target people more accurately with ads. The targeting of vulnerable people with gambling advertising is a contentious topic.
- More interesting options. Online gambling offering more interesting play options, such as in-play betting on sports like tennis, makes it a much more attractive activity. But it also increases the frequency of gambling actions and can lead to people betting more and more often.
How Can Gambling-Related Harm Be Reduced?
While this article might seem to be all doom and gloom, it’s important to recognize that there are ways to reduce gambling-related harm. Regulation and oversight play a very important role, but for many people, the answer lies in playing more responsibly. Players should undertake to:
- Always gamble responsibly. Responsible gambling includes awareness of a wide range of things. Players should set and stick to time and financial limits. Gambling should be treated as entertainment, not as a way to make money. Players should take regular breaks. And many more.
- Choose safe platforms. By choosing safe and licensed platforms, players can ensure that they will be protected and offered the correct sorts of responsible gambling tools. Licensed platforms are typically required to provide plenty of information about responsible gambling as well as links to support services.
- Make use of the available tools. It’s no good playing at a safe platform that offers exclusion and deposit-limiting tools if you don’t make use of them. These tools are there to help, and players must make use of them if they want to truly engage in responsible gambling.
Final Thoughts
While online gambling and betting may seem like it is increasing the amount of Australians who are experiencing gambling-related harm, the truth might simply be that as more Australians gamble, incidents of gambling-related harm will also increase.
By increasing the awareness around responsible gambling initiatives and encouraging more players to play at safe platforms, incidents of gambling-related harm should fall.
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