Trajectories of social and economic outcomes and problem gambling risk in Australia

Session Title

Session 2-1-A: Measuring Problem Gambling Behavior — On Location

Presentation Type

Event

Location

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada

Start Date

29-5-2019 9:00 AM

End Date

29-5-2019 10:25 AM

Disciplines

Social Statistics

Abstract

Most research on gambling is based upon cross sectional survey data. In Australia, this means state/territory based gambling prevalence surveys which take a snapshot of gambling risk prevalence rates at a particular point in time. The paucity of large-scale Australian longitudinal gambling data means that there is a limited understanding of the trajectory of problem/moderate and low risk gamblers and the economic, social and health outcomes of those who gamble. This paper attempts to address this using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. This large Australian longitudinal household survey included gambling questions for the first time in 2015 (Wave 15). This paper explores a range of economic variables (household income, employment, qualification, financial hardship, risk and stress) and select social variables (life satisfaction, psychological distress, alcohol intake and smoking) from multiple HILDA waves in respect to problem gambling risk. The findings suggest that those people in society that experience any level of gambling problem are also likely to be experiencing a range of other social and economic challenges over the course of many years. The analysis suggests that gambling risk is exponentially associated with the probability of experiencing significant financial hardship, psychological distress, low levels of life satisfaction, consuming harmful levels of alcohol, smoking and the probability of taking above average financial risks.

Implication statement: This research is unique in highlighting the significant negative long term social and economic outcomes for people that experience gambling problems in Australia.

Keywords

gambling longitudinal survey Australia gambling harm

Author Bios

Dr Marisa Paterson is the Director of the Centre for Gambling Research (CSRM) at the Australian National University. She holds a PhD in Anthropology, a Masters of Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Anthropology). Marisa specialises in mixed methods research , with a particular research focus on gambling policy and regulation, social and Indigenous issues, social service delivery and program development.

Funding Sources

None

Competing Interests

None

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May 29th, 9:00 AM May 29th, 10:25 AM

Trajectories of social and economic outcomes and problem gambling risk in Australia

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada

Most research on gambling is based upon cross sectional survey data. In Australia, this means state/territory based gambling prevalence surveys which take a snapshot of gambling risk prevalence rates at a particular point in time. The paucity of large-scale Australian longitudinal gambling data means that there is a limited understanding of the trajectory of problem/moderate and low risk gamblers and the economic, social and health outcomes of those who gamble. This paper attempts to address this using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. This large Australian longitudinal household survey included gambling questions for the first time in 2015 (Wave 15). This paper explores a range of economic variables (household income, employment, qualification, financial hardship, risk and stress) and select social variables (life satisfaction, psychological distress, alcohol intake and smoking) from multiple HILDA waves in respect to problem gambling risk. The findings suggest that those people in society that experience any level of gambling problem are also likely to be experiencing a range of other social and economic challenges over the course of many years. The analysis suggests that gambling risk is exponentially associated with the probability of experiencing significant financial hardship, psychological distress, low levels of life satisfaction, consuming harmful levels of alcohol, smoking and the probability of taking above average financial risks.

Implication statement: This research is unique in highlighting the significant negative long term social and economic outcomes for people that experience gambling problems in Australia.