Poker Machine Harm Reduction
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Copyright notice © Independent Gambling Authority, 2008 This publication is copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth) or otherwise set out in this copyright notice, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or stored electronically in any form without prior permission in writing from the copyright holder. The Independent Gambling Authority is an incorporated instrumentality of the Crown in right of South Australia. This publication is intended for use in the public domain. It may be copied (including being copied electronically and stored as a computer file) provided that it is copied in its entirety, that it is not materially altered and that no fee (other than a fee reasonably referable to actual cost of copying) is charged. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-1-921070-34-1 (print) 978-1-921070-35-8 (web) Australasian Gambling Review Third Edition (1992–2007) Paul H. Delfabbro B. Ec., B.A. (Hons), Ph.D. (Adelaide) Associate Professor, School of Psychology University of Adelaide, Australia comprising Gambling Research in Australia and New Zealand (1992–2002): Implications for policy, regulation and harm minimization Paul H. Delfabbro and Amanda Le Couteur Independent Gambling Authority, Adelaide, 2003 updated, with a preface, to cover the state of the literature as at 30 June 2005 as Australasian Gambling Review, First Edition Independent Gambling Authority, Adelaide, 2006 updated, with a preface, to cover the state of the literature as at 30 June 2006 as Australasian Gambling Review, Second Edition Independent Gambling Authority, Adelaide, 2007 updated and revised to cover the state of the literature as at 30 June 2007 INDEPENDENT GAMBLING AUTHORITY ADELAIDE, 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface to the Third Edition ....................................................................................... v Summary of additions to the Third Edition.............................................................. vii Executive summary .................................................................................................... 1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................1 Nature and prevalence of gambling..........................................................................................1 Problem gambling ....................................................................................................................2 Explanations for gambling .......................................................................................................3 Harm minimisation and strategies to assist problem gamblers ................................................5 Economic analysis and regional impact studies .......................................................................6 1. Introduction........................................................................................................ 9 1.1 Terms of reference .........................................................................................................9 1.2 Summary of focal areas of gambling research examined in the review.......................10 1.2.1 The prevalence and nature of gambling in Australia and New Zealand..........10 1.2.2 The impacts of gambling on individuals and the community, e.g., the prevalence of problem gambling and its correlates.........................................10 1.2.3 Theoretical explanations for problem gambling ..............................................10 1.2.4 Harm minimisation and strategies to assist problem gamblers .......................11 2. Research methodology..................................................................................... 12 3. Prevalence of gambling in Australia and New Zealand .................................. 13 3.1 Overall participation rates............................................................................................13 3.2 Gambling expenditure..................................................................................................15 3.2.1 National expenditure comparisons...................................................................15 3.2.2 Statewide expenditure comparisons .................................................................16 3.3 Demographic profile of gamblers ................................................................................19 3.4 Gender and its role in the growth of gambling ............................................................21 3.5 Age differences in gambling ........................................................................................25 3.5.1 Gambling in older Australians.........................................................................25 3.5.2 Under-aged and youth gambling......................................................................27 3.6 Gambling in Indigenous and in specific cultural communities....................................37 3.6.1 Overview...........................................................................................................37 3.6.2 Indigenous gambling in Australia and New Zealand.......................................37 3.6.3 Gambling in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.........41 3.7 Forms of gambling and motivations for gambling in Australia ...................................44 3.7.1 The dimensions of gambling: How activities differ..........................................44 3.7.2 People’s motivations for gambling: Australian survey findings ......................47 4. Problem gambling............................................................................................ 50 4.1 Conceptual issues in problem gambling ......................................................................50 4.2 How problem gambling is assessed .............................................................................52 4.2.1 DSM Classification and its origins ..................................................................52 4.2.2 The South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS): a critical overview ......................54 4.2.3 Modifications to the SOGS...............................................................................58 4.2.4 The Victorian Gambling Screen (VGS) ............................................................60 4.2.5 The Eight Screen ..............................................................................................64 4.2.6 The Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI).............................................65 i 4.2.7 Comparing the major problem gambling screens............................................66 4.3 The prevalence of problem-gambling in Australia and New Zealand .........................70 4.3.1 Summary of problem-gambling prevalence research.......................................70 4.3.2 Sampling issues in prevalence research...........................................................74 4.4 Demographic correlates of problem gambling.............................................................75 4.5 Problem gambling and specific gambling activities ....................................................77 4.6 Psychosocial effects of problem gambling ..................................................................79 4.6.1 Overview...........................................................................................................79 4.6.2 Gambling and psychological health.................................................................80 Depression........................................................................................................80 Suicidality.........................................................................................................81 Anxiety..............................................................................................................82 Dissociation......................................................................................................83 4.6.3 Gambling and other addictive behaviours .......................................................85 Alcohol .............................................................................................................85 Cigarette smoking ............................................................................................87 Drug dependence..............................................................................................88 4.6.4 Gambling and physical health..........................................................................89 4.6.5 Impacts on families and relationships..............................................................90 4.6.6 Effects on employment......................................................................................91 4.6.7 Effects on financial security and the amounts lost ...........................................92 4.7 Problem gambling and criminal behaviour..................................................................94 4.7.1 Evidence from community prevalence studies..................................................94 4.7.2 Evidence from counselling agencies ................................................................95 4.7.3 Prison studies in Australia ...............................................................................95 4.7.4 Prison studies in New Zealand.........................................................................99 4.7.5 The types of crimes committed by gamblers...................................................101