A Review of Australian Gambling Research Implications for inter-jurisdictional public policy and regulation 2nd Update Version January 2010 GRA Logo Commissioned by Gambling Research Australia for the Ministerial Council on Gambling
The Ministerial Council on Gambling is comprised of the Ministers responsible for gambling in each State and Territory Government and the Australian Government. The objective of the Council is to minimise the adverse consequences of problem gambling via the exchange of information on responsible gambling measures and by acting as a forum for discussion and facilitation of the development of an effective interventions framework. The Ministerial Council on Gambling established Gambling Research Australia (GRA) to administer its research program. The Secretariat is provided by the Office of Gaming and Racing, Department of Justice, Victoria. Further information about the national research program may be obtained from www.gamblingresearch.org.au Gambling Research Australia commissioned Associate professor Paul Delfabbro, School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia to undertake an analysis of Australian gambling research This project has been funded as part of the Research Program of the Ministerial Council on Gambling Acknowledgement of jurisdictional funding to the Research Program: Australian Capital Territory: ACT Government through the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission Australian Government: The Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs New South Wales: NSW Government through the Responsible Gambling Fund Northern Territory: Northern Territory Government through the Community Benefit Fund Queensland: Queensland Treasury South Australia: Government of South Australia Tasmania: Tasmanian Government through the Community Support Levy Victoria: Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund Western Australia: Government of Western Australia through the Gaming Community Trust GRA Secretariat Telephone: 03 8684 1932 Facsimile: 03 8684 1900 Copyright State of Victoria, Department of Justice 2009 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provision of the Copyright Act 1968. Also published on www.gamblingresearch.org.au Disclaimer: The views expressed in this report are solely those of the author/s. The information, views and references material in this report is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the information provided. Printing authorised by: Gambling Research Australia ISBN: 978-1-921627-12-5 Printed by:
A Review of Australian Gambling Research Implications for inter-jurisdictional public policy and regulation 2nd Update Version Associate Professor Paul Delfabbro School of Psychology University of Adelaide January 2010 Report prepared for Gambling Research Australia
2 Table of Contents Table of Contents... 2 Executive Summary... 5 Chapter 1: Introduction and Analytical Approach... 15 1.1 Introduction... 15 1.2 The Role of Gambling Research Australia... 18 1.3 Terms of Reference for Current Project... 19 1.4 National Gambling Research Framework: Priorities... 20 1.5 Methodology and Sourcing of Material... 21 1.6 Analytical Strategy: How the Value of Research is Assessed... 22 1.6.1 Scientific Credibility: The Issue of Reliability and Validity... 23 1.6.2 Variations in Research Methodology... 26 1.6.3 Contextual Factors in the Inter-jurisdictional Comparison of Findings... 31 1.6.4 Enhancing the Utility of Research... 36 1.7 Structure of this Report and Research Areas Considered... 39 Chapter 2: The Prevalence of Gambling and Problem Gambling Within Australia... 42 2.1 Overview... 42 2.2 Prevalence Studies in Australia: Methodology... 42 2.3 Variations in Sub-sampling... 49 2.4 Conceptualisation of Problem Gambling... 50 2.5 Measurement of Problem Gambling... 54 2.5.1 Future Directions in Measurement... 59 2.6 Prevalence of Problem Gambling... 60 2.7 Assessment of Current Prevalence Research... 65 2.8 Gender Differences in Gambling and Problem Gambling... 66 2.9 Age Differences... 69 2.9.1 Adolescent Gambling... 69 2.9.2 Gambling in Older Samples... 78 2.10 Gambling in Indigenous Communities... 81 2.11 Gambling in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities (CALD)... 84 Chapter 3: The Impacts of Problem Gambling... 87 3.1 Overview... 87 3.2 Personal Impacts of Problem Gambling... 88 3.2.1 Psychological Harm... 88 3.2.2 Problem Gambling and Substance Abuse... 90 Alcohol... 90 Cigarette Smoking... 92 Other Substance Use... 94 3.2.3 Problem Gambling and Social Impacts... 96 3.2.4 Problem Gambling and Employment Impacts... 98 3.2.5 Problem Gambling and Financial Impacts... 99 3.2.6 Problem Gambling and Legal Impacts... 102 3.2.7 Problem Gambling and Venue Staff... 106
3 Chapter 4: The Characteristics of EGMs and Their Role in Gambling and Problem Gambling... 111 4.1 Overview... 111 4.2 EGMs and Problem Gambling... 111 4.3 EGM Gambling: Motivational Factors and Preferences... 113 4.4 In-venue EGM Studies in New South Wales and Queensland... 119 4.4.1 EGM Playing Styles: Observational and In Vivo Research... 119 4.4.2 Near Miss Effects... 123 4.4.3 Sydney University Machine Reconfiguration Study... 125 4.4.4 AIPC Study of Games and Game Features in South Australia... 130 4.5 Psychological Studies of EGM Gambling... 136 4.5.1 Traditional Addiction Perspective... 137 4.5.2 Pathology Model... 139 4.5.3 Psychological Vulnerability... 141 4.5.4 Behavioural Approaches... 143 4.5.5 Impaired Control and Gambling Urges... 144 4.5.6 Cognitive Approach... 146 Chapter 5: Harm Minimisation Strategies, Interventions and Services... 150 5.1 Overview... 150 5.2 Primary Intervention Strategies... 150 5.2.1 School-based Education Programs... 150 5.2.2 Community and Venue-based Information... 152 5.2.3 Effectiveness of Broad Codes of Practice... 155 5.2.4 Limits on Advertising and Venue Promotions... 160 5.2.5 General Practice Interventions... 161 5.3 Secondary Intervention Strategies... 162 5.3.1 Restricting Access to Money at Venues... 162 5.3.2 Lighting and Clocks in Venues... 166 5.3.3 Machine Shutdowns... 167 5.3.4 Other EGM Features... 170 5.3.5 Smart Card Technology... 171 5.3.6 Exclusion Strategies... 174 5.3.7 Smoking Bans... 176 5.3.8 Staff Training and Identifying Problem Gamblers in Venues... 177 5.4 Tertiary Interventions... 183 5.4.1 Help-Seeking in Problem Gamblers... 183 5.4.2 Pre-Commitment and Self-Help Strategies... 185 5.5 Evaluations of Treatment Services and Interventions... 187 5.6 Evaluations of Specific Therapeutic Interventions... 189 5.7 Predictors of Relapse in Treatment Programmes... 196 Chapter 6: Economic and Geographic Impact Studies... 198 6.1 Overview... 198 6.2 Estimating Economic Costs and Benefits... 199 6.3 Economic Impact Studies... 201
4 6.4 Inter-jurisdictional Impact Analyses... 208 6.5 Geographical Analyses... 209 6.5.1 Accessibility and Indices of Gambling Activity... 209 6.5.2 Effects of Capping Schemes and EGM Reductions... 214 Chapter 7: Summary: Informing the National Research Priorities... 217 7.1 Overview... 217 References... 229