Researchers in Australia have launched a new study into the wider impact of gambling and problem gambling, in particular. They will be looking into the families of gamblers in the state of New South Wales, which is home to around half of all Australian electronic gaming machines, commonly known as pokies.
In a press release on Thursday, the Centre for Gaming Research at the Australian National University (ANU) announced the launch of a new study that would look at the harmful effects of gambling on gamblers’ families and partners. The study will assess the indirect impact caused to the closest people of those affected by gambling. According to researchers, these are often the wives and families of gamblers so they will focus mostly on women and the toll of compulsive gambling on them.
The team at ANU’s Centre for Gambling Research will carry out the study in partnership with local service providers, Relationships Australia and Anglicare. The project is under the title Gambling Support Study and it aims at bringing more understanding of the experiences of gamblers’ families and partners. The goal is to assess the harmful effects of gambling on these people and to specify the type of support and assistance that they need. Researchers hope that they will be able to encourage more people to seek out appropriate support.
According to Dr Marisa Paterson of the Centre for Gambling Research, the wives and family members of gambling addicts experience multiple harms but they rarely look for professional, formal help. Previous research shows that the female partners of problem gamblers often experience issues of varied nature – social, economic, emotional, etc. The goal of this study is to better understand how to help them in the best way possible, Paterson explains.
The study is funded by the New South Wales government and it will include participants from the Australian Capital Territory and the state as a whole. Researchers are now inviting people to take part in the project – their involvement will be confidential and will include a short, face-to-face interview. Participants will be reimbursed with a AU$50 prepaid voucher.
NSW Has the Most Pokies in Australia
Gambling is extremely popular in New South Wales, the state with the most pokies in the country. It is home to approximately 95,000 electronic gaming machines. In comparison, the total number of pokies in Australia is around 200,000, whereas Nevada has more than 180,000 slot machines. After Nevada, New South Wales has the world’s second-largest collection of gaming machines.
In the six months from December 1, 2017, to May 31, clubs in the state earned AU$1.94 billion from gambling. Hotels made a net profit of AU$1.17 billion from pokies for the same period.
The most popular form of gambling among adults in the NSW is lottery products, the 2011 NSW Gambling Prevalence Survey says. While 30 per cent of people did not take part in any gambling activities in the past 12 months, 41 per cent of the adult population played the lottery. Pokies and scratch cards were played by around 30 per cent of people and approximately 27 per cent of all adults admitted to betting on sports.
- Author
Daniel Williams
