COMMUNTY CONCERNS OVER GAMBLING ADVERTISING

Recent estimates suggest that Australians lose approximately $25 billion on legal forms of gambling every year, representing the largest per capita losses in the world (Queensland Government Statistician’s Office [QGSO], 2021). While participation in traditional ‘land-based’ gambling (e.g. poker machines or pokies) has been declining among Australians over the past decade, gambling online on sports and race betting has grown substantially during that time, and related harms are an increasing concern (AGRC, 2021).

The growth in sports and race betting has happened alongside rapid increases in expenditure on wagering advertising in Australia. Recent estimates suggest that the gambling industry spent $287.2 million on advertising in Australia in 2021, an increase of $15.9 million from 2020.

The report highlights:

• most Australian adults spent money and time gambling in the past 12 months – two in five (38%) gambled at least weekly
• More men than women gambled on every product included in the survey (e.g. sports, racing, pokies).
• Most Australians believed that there were ‘too many opportunities for gambling nowadays’ (77%), that gambling is ‘dangerous for family life’ (68%) and gambling ‘should be discouraged’ (59%).
• Two in three (69%) believed that wagering advertising is ‘too common’, and half (53%) thought it ‘normalises gambling among children’.
• Young people (aged 18–34 years) were more likely to be exposed to gambling advertising through ‘interactive media’ (e.g. social media, online), and people aged 55+ years through ‘traditional media’ (e.g. TV, radio, print media).
• Australians believe that governments should play the biggest role in deciding how wagering is advertised (64%).

For more detailed information on Australian attitudes to gabling advertising download the AGRC report here >>> https://thedrop.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2302-overview_gambling-participation-harm-views.pdf

 

Source: https://aifs.gov.au/research/research-snapshots/gambling-participation-experience-harm-and-community-views