One third of people who gamble have experienced gambling-related harm, which is what we are particularly concerned about in this post. More than 3.1 million Americans are experiencing harmful and regretful effects such as guilt and gambling-related stress. The Australia Government’s Australian Gambling Research Centre surveyed nearly 4,000 Australians. They found that more than three million adults had experienced significant gambling harm in the previous year.
The picture that emerges is alarming – young adults 18 to 24 are at greatest risk. They are nearly two times more likely to suffer from moderate to severe gambling-related harm than older age groups. Additionally, the study emphasizes the challenges faced by Indigenous Australians, with 27% reporting gambling harms—nearly double the rate of non-Indigenous individuals.
Mandy Zhang, a financial counsellor with Melbourne-based welfare service EACH, said those impacted were in urgent need of support. She noted the availability of counselling services, which offer free, confidential assessments and referrals, based on individual needs.
The figures around gambling behaviour in Australia are alarming. Over a third of respondents (35.6%) reported gambling once a month or more frequently. Additionally, Australians as a whole lose about $32 billion each year on legal gambling.
Dr. Charles Livingstone of Monash University, who studies gambling trends, made the statement. He does a great job of illustrating the profound influence advertising wields on youth. He characterized the current landscape a “crazy social experiment.” This normalization of gambling, through inescapable sports and non-sports-related promotions, puts young people at intense risk and should alarm us all.
Dr. Gabriel Tillman from the Australian Gambling Research Centre, who gave a peek at just how bad it is. He disclosed that among high-risk gamblers—about 550,000 people—16% have ever had suicidal thoughts. This shocking figure highlights the need to tackle gambling related harm as well as the mental health impact it has.
“If we’re talking about those high-risk gamblers, that’s about 550,000 people. And so of those people, 16 percent are experiencing suicidal thoughts, and so that’s the kind of magnitude we’re talking about. That means they’re going without food, missing their bills, borrowing money.” – Dr. Gabriel Tillman
The impacts of gambling go beyond personal mental health issues. Intimate partner violence is an equally harrowing effect. Our data suggests that this kind of violence is suffered by close to 20% of women whose male partners gamble weekly or more often. Dr. Livingstone underscores the need for this critical observation. Those from non-English speaking backgrounds are more likely to develop gambling addictions compared to members of the broader Australian community.
The Alliance for Gambling Reform attributes skyrocketing gambling harm rates to the state’s predatory advertising campaigns. These tactics inundate consumers with promotional messaging that conditions them to accept gambling as an accepted feature of modern life. Continuing criticism of this all-consuming ad culture MARTIN THOMAS – Alliance for a Just Transportation
“Anything is better than the status quo because we have 1 million gambling ads on our screens every year and it’s just impossible to miss the ads and it’s driving the surge in gambling, particularly among kids but also young men as well.” – Martin Thomas
The federal government has recently begun to respond to a landmark Queensland inquiry into gambling harm. They want to complete their response by the end of 2025. This question is at the heart of the growing crisis over gambling. It looks for ways to maximize the benefits of these innovations while minimizing the harms they may cause.
Zhang urges anyone struggling with gambling-related issues to find support. Small actions can accumulate to create powerful impacts. She insists that no action is too small to make a difference.
“The first step is to talk to someone that just like even it’s a small step but it’s a big step. Someone you can trust. A friend, family member you know a counsellor even help line like you know the gambler’s helpline as well.” – Mandy Zhang
Whether it is crypto, gambling or gaming —the situation in Australia demands immediate examination and action. More Australians are becoming victims to its harms. To address this worsening public health crisis, we need to ensure ongoing research and bolster community support.
