New Australian research found almost half of gamblers are at risk of gambling harm

New research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies has found that three-quarters of Australians gambled at least once over the last year, with 38% wagering weekly.

According to the study, of those who gambled, half of them were considered to be at risk of gambling harm.

The Australian Institute of Family Studies, an agency within the Department of Social Service, surveyed 1,765 people about gambling participation and community harm.

The study found that over half of the population would support a blanket ban on gambling advertising across all platforms before 10:30pm.

This support for an advertising watershed comes as a third of the people surveyed said they increased their betting after exposure to gambling advertising, with 18-34 year-olds most susceptible to the advertisements.

The study also found that more men than women gambled on every product included in the survey, namely, slots, sports betting and horseracing betting. Men also gambled more often, spent more money and were therefore more likely to be at risk of harm.

Most Australians surveyed also believed there were “too many opportunities to gamble” and that gambling was dangerous to family life and should be discouraged.

Rebecca Jenkinson, executive manager of the Australian Gambling Research Centre, said the findings demonstrate the harm exposure to gambling advertising can potentially cause.

“We know the harms that gambling causes, at an individual, family and societal level, including impacts on finances, relationships and health and wellbeing,” Jenkinson said.

“This research shows that exposure to wagering advertising is leading to riskier betting behaviour and escalating the likelihood of experiencing gambling harms,” she added.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australians lose approximately A$25bn (£13.56bn) on gambling each year, representing the largest per capita loss in the world.

These findings come as Responsible Wagering Australia (RWA) appoints its new CEO Kai Cantwell, who will begin his tenure on 17 April 2023.

Cantwell notably served as the chief of staff to federal ministers for the Australian government and regularly participated on its Expenditure Review Committee, which was responsible for federal government spending during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also played a key role in the responsibility for coordination, development and implementation of the National Consumer Protection Framework for Online Gambling.

On Cantwell’s appointment, Nick Minchin AO, chairman of RWA, commented: “With his wealth of leadership experience, Mr Cantwell is uniquely positioned to lead RWA and present a confident and united voice on behalf of its members.

“His deep understanding of social policy, sports, wagering and government position him perfectly to lead RWA and its members as we continue to promote socially responsible wagering and advocate for the highest standards in the sector.”

Cantwell commented: “I am honoured to have the opportunity to work with RWA members, sporting and racing bodies and governments of all levels to ensure we continue to get the balance right between protections, regulation and freedoms.”