United States
United Kingdom
Summary:
- Number of young Aussies dealing with problem gambling increased in the 2022-23 financial year
- Gambling ads have the most impact on gambling behavior among the youth
- Public health experts have called for urgent action to address the issue
Latest data in Australia show more and more young people in the country are experiencing problem gambling. By being exposed and addicted to gambling at a young age, many Australians end up suffering from mental health issues, debt, and relationship breakdowns in their adult life, an investigation by Guardian Australia has found.
Problem Gambling Among Young Australians on the Rise
According to figures from Gambling Help Online, which provides free 24/7 online support for anyone affected by gambling throughout Australia, the number of young people aged 24 and under reaching out to the online service has jumped by 16% in the 2022-23 financial year. The service recorded 2,136 requests for help across the country, 600 of which were from young people aged between 15 and 24 in Victoria.
But that could just be the tip of the iceberg, with public health experts warning that the actual situation is much worse with plenty of young Australians now dealing with gambling addiction. A recent study conducted by Federation University, in collaboration with the coroner’s court of Victoria, found that of the 4,788 suicide deaths recorded between 2009 and 2016, 184 were linked to gambling. Of that number, 14 were aged 17 to 24.
Another study in Victoria found that almost a third of secondary school students in the state had gambled in the last 30 days. The rapid growth of online gambling and the proliferation of gambling ads and marketing materials across various platforms accessed by younger people, including social media and popular websites, are mainly to blame for the increasing number of youth getting hooked on gambling.
Gambling advertisements and promotions, many of which feature celebrities and influencers, have the biggest impact on gambling behavior among kids and young people, according to Samantha Thomas, public health sociologist and professor at Deakin University. Gambling firms adopt marketing methods that tend to normalize gambling, leading young people to believe that there is no risk associated with the activity.
Experts Say Industry Self-Regulation Not the Way to Go
Youth gambling in Australia is a massive public health problem that must be addressed as a matter of urgency, according to public health experts.
It’s about time the Australian governments treat the gambling sector the same way they treat other harmful industries such as tobacco. Experts said the gambling industry should not be allowed to “self-regulate” as it is not effective enough in fighting the problem.
