Centre for Gambling Education and Research

Indigenous Australian gamblers and their help-seeking behaviour

Helen Breen et al. — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 21:59:23 PDT

Gambling impacts on Aboriginal communities in New South Wales, Australia: community leaders’ perspectives

Helen Breen et al. — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:59:43 PDT

Gambling affects communities in many ways, yet relatively little research has investigated community level impacts of gambling in the context of Indigenous communities. To help address this gap in research, this research investigates the impacts of gambling on Aboriginal communities across New South Wales, Australia. Thirteen Aboriginal community leaders were interviewed by an Aboriginal member of the research team. Interviews were semi-structured, in-depth and conducted by telephone. The results showed some culturally distinctive positive and negative gambling impacts were being experienced across different Aboriginal communities. Positive impacts were reported as collective socialising and the opportunity to win money. Negative impacts were said to be community deprivation and cultural obligations not being fulfilled. Several important public health strategies to reduce negative gambling impacts were suggested. These were to enable self-recognition of gambling difficulties by the gambler, to use already established Aboriginal support groups to assist in this process, and to design and provide culturally appropriate public education and gambling awareness programs targeted at a community level. Recognising differences between communities, involvement by local Aboriginal people in developing and providing public health programs is recommended.

Indigenous Australian gambling crime and possible interventions: a qualitative study

Helen Breen et al. — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:32:04 PDT

This paper has two purposes. First, we examine crime associated with the consequences of card and commercial gambling by Indigenous Australians in two states, in north Queensland (QLD) and in northern New South Wales (NSW). Second, we identify public health interventions potentially useful for reducing harmful gambling consequences. Permission was granted by Indigenous Elders and a university ethics committee to conduct this research. Using qualitative methods and purposeful sampling, interviews were conducted with 229 Indigenous Australians and 79 non-Indigenous gambling help counsellors, gaming venue managers and others. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interviews. Results show two types of crime were most evident, those committed to support a gambling habit (fraud and theft) and family dysfunction. Potential interventions reported to hold promise for minimising some harmful gambling consequences include: appropriate community education and awareness campaigns targeting Indigenous gamblers, families and their communities; the provision of Indigenous gambling outreach services; and culturally appropriate gambling counselling and treatment services. As gambling issues are interlinked with cultural, social and economic influences, the real challenge is to work with regional Indigenous communities to develop and deliver relevant holistic interventions appropriate to their needs.

Indigenous card gambler profiles in North Queensland

Helen Breen — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:10:59 PDT

Card gambling has been engaged in by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in northern parts of Australia for centuries but limited information is available explaining the games and the gamblers. To deepen our understanding of card gambling, this paper uses a public health approach to analyse card gambler profiles in north Queensland. Three typical profiles emerged from the results and have been labelled social , binge and committed gamblers. They have also been identified as being positioned along a public health continuum of gambling from healthy at one end (gambling in low-risk situations) to unhealthy (gambling in high-risk situations) at the opposite end. A model of these gambler profiles explains the gambler's participation, behaviour, motivations and outcomes on the continuum. Potentially, and in consultation with local communities, these findings could help to inform the development of culturally appropriate public health strategies for specific groups of card gamblers.

A profile of gambling behaviour and impacts among Indigenous Australians attending a cultural event in New South Wales

Nerilee Hing et al. — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:44:07 PDT

This study examines gambling behaviour, gambling motivations, gambling-related problems, impacts of gambling and help-seeking among a sample of Indigenous Australians. The study is exploratory and cross sectional and represents the first quantitative analysis of Indigenous gambling in New South Wales since 1996. With the help of several Indigenous Australian research assistants, a survey was conducted at a 2011 Indigenous arts and cultural event, capturing responses from 277 Indigenous Australian adults. While about one-quarter of respondents gambled on card games in the previous 12 months, nearly three-quarters had gambled on commercial forms of gambling, especially poker machines. Participation rates and weekly gambling on poker machines, keno and wagering, and the proportions of problem and at-risk gamblers, were higher in the Indigenous sample than in the general New South Wales population. While the main reasons for gambling were reported as pleasure and fun, socialising, to relax and the chance to win money, several negative impacts were reported, including financial problems and subsequent reliance on relatives or friends. More than one in ten gamblers also reported gambling had led to household arguments, depression and violence. Distinctive barriers to seeking help for gambling problems included lack of knowledge and confidence about help services and lack of culturally appropriate help services. Although limited by a non-representative sample, this paper highlights some distinctive aspects of Indigenous gambling that warrant further research to inform appropriate public health and treatment measures to address problems associated with contemporary Indigenous gambling.

Detection of problem gambler subgroups using recursive partitioning

Francis Markham et al. — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:46:04 PST

The multivariate socio-demographic risk factors for problem gambling have been well documented. While this body of research is valuable in determining risk factors aggregated across various populations, the majority of studies tend not to specifically identify particular subgroups of problem gamblers based on the interaction between variables. The identification of problem gambling subgroups offers the potential for improved harm-reduction initiatives in particular geographic contexts. We introduce an analytical approach termed recursive partitioning, commonly used in the health sciences but infrequently employed in gambling research, to identify specific gambler subgroups based on the interaction of a range of predictor variables. Recursive partitioning creates groups of cases (e.g. gamblers) with similar outcomes by repeatedly splitting each group into smaller and more homogenous subgroups. We employ it to define problem gambler subgroups within a diverse population context (i.e. northern Australia) and compare the results with a multivariate analysis of the same dataset using a generalized linear regression model. We assess the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, and argue that recursive partitioning is an easily-interpretable approach that may be useful both in identifying problem gambling subgroups and in developing targeted harm-minimisation strategies.

Placing bets: gambling venues and the distribution of harm

Martin Young et al. — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:40:10 PST

The liberalisation of gambling in Australia has resulted in the dispersal of 200 000 electronic gaming machines (EGMs) across the country, generating substantial revenues for State governments and the gambling industry as well as causing significant gambling-related harm. While the spatial distribution of EGM venues has been shown to follow a gradient of community disadvantage, little is known about the distinctions between the venues themselves (i.e. pubs, clubs, and casinos), either in terms of the catchments they service or the harm they produce. To this end, we constructed a sexpartite typology of EGM venues in the Northern Territory of Australia derived from venue location and licensing variables. We also conducted a geocoded mail survey (n=7041) of households in three urban centres to describe the composition of markets and problem-gambling outcomes across the six venue categories in the typology. Venues in accessible locations and those with a higher numbers of EGMs, particularly casinos and clubs located near supermarkets, were most closely associated with gambling-related harm, even when differing player socio-demographics were accounted for. We argue that gambling risk is a function of the interaction of geographic accessibility to markets on the one hand and venue effects on the other. An understanding of the geography of EGM gambling may help improve supply-side approaches to regulation, as well as shed insights into contemporary urban processes within Australia's regional settlements.

Too close to home? the relationships between residential distance to venue and gambling outcomes

Martin Young et al. — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:21:48 PST

Although gambling accessibility is generally viewed as a multidimensional construct, few studies have successfully untangled the specific role of spatial accessibility in determining gambling outcomes relative to other forms (i.e. temporal, social and psychological). In this paper, we explore the association between gambling outcomes and the distance travelled from a person's home to their most-frequented gambling venue. To this end, we conducted a geocoded mail survey of 7044 households in the Northern Territory of Australia. We employed a geographic information system to calculate the network distance from each household to all visited electronic gaming machine (EGM) venues (n = 64). Multivariate regression modelling revealed that, when adjusted for individual and neighbourhood-level characteristics, frequency of venue visitation and gambling participation were inversely related to residential distance from venue. There was no additional distance effect for problem gambling. Spatial accessibility of EGMs is an important determinant of gambling risk and should be explicitly considered by regulators.

The relationship between alcohol consumption, gambling behaviour and problem gambling during a single visit to a gambling venue

Francis Markham et al. — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:57:40 PST

Introduction and Aims. Despite the well-documented comorbidity between disordered alcohol use and problem gambling, little is known about the co-occurrence of drinking and gambling in gambling venues. This paper appears to be the first to investigate the association between drinking and gambling behaviour among a large sample of gamblers during a specific, non-laboratory gambling episode.

Design and Methods. We conducted a mail survey of all available households in the Northern Territory of Australia, including questions on drinking and gambling behaviour on the last visit to a gambling venue. We estimate the effect of moderate (1–4 standard drinks) and risky (>4 standard drinks) alcohol consumption on gambling participation and gambling duration for both problem and non-problem gamblers using regression analysis of 7044 survey responses.

Results. The probability of participating in electronic gaming machine (EGM) gambling decreased with alcohol consumption for non-problem gamblers, while the probability of participating in TAB (Totalisator Agency Board, off-course totalisator) gambling increased with risky alcohol consumption for all gamblers. Alcohol consumption was not associated with EGM gambling participation for problem gamblers. Moderate alcohol consumption was negatively associated with EGM gambling duration, with a stronger effect observed for problem gamblers.

Discussion and Conclusions. Moderate alcohol consumption is inversely correlated with both the duration of play and probability of participation for EGM gambling. Current laboratory studies do not predict the drinking–gambling behaviour of the general population in non-laboratory settings. Future research on alcohol and gambling co-occurrence must explicitly consider the drinking and gambling environment in order to produce policy-relevant findings.[Markham F, Young M, Doran B. The relationship between alcohol consumption, gambling behaviour and problem gambling during a single visit to a gambling venue.

Putting the cards on the table: perceived factors influencing frequency of participation in land-based poker tournaments

Melanie Edelhoff — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:22:58 PST

Poker tournaments are now regular events in Australian clubs and pubs. However, minimal research has been conducted into non-internet poker tournaments. This study examined the factors which influence the frequency of player participation in poker tournaments in northern New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Participant observation and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants and one poker league operator. Constructivist grounded theory was used to conduct analyses. The main reason reported for tournament participation was social interaction. The study found that tournaments overcome social, age and gender barriers, with the focus being on the game. Social benefits such as social interaction, challenges of improving poker playing skills and increased self-esteem were reportedly important and perceived to influence interviewees' frequency of tournament participation. This study is the first exploration of poker playing in regional tournaments and adds to the scant body of knowledge on recreational gambling and associated social benefits.

Meanings of Aboriginal gambling across New South Wales, Australia

Helen Breen et al. — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:43:20 PDT

A social perspective of gambling explains gambling as a consequence of the social, structural and cultural environment in which gamblers live. In the Australian Indigenous context the social perspective is important, given the significance of community and family ties. This paper aims to explore meanings of Aboriginal gambling across New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Taking an interpretivist stance, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 knowledgeable Indigenous Australians, key elected and nominated state representatives. Meanings of Aboriginal gambling included the collective activity of gambling within social networks in the hope of a win. More problematic meanings of gambling were always gambling to win, chasing losses and continual financial distress which appeared to reduce social network bonds. Contrasting problem gambling with recreational gambling revealed that some Indigenous gamblers use their existing cultural and kin relationships on which many of their social networks are based to gamble together in a controlled recreational manner.

A review of hospitality research in the Asia Pacific 1989-1996: a thematic perspective

Nerilee Hing — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 18:57:05 PDT

Identifies themes in the hospitality and tourism literature arising from articles published in Asia Pacific-based journals from 1989 to 1996 inclusive. The journals are the Australian Journal of Hospitality Management, the Journal of Tourism Studies, Tourism Recreation Research and the Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research. The themes are: attracting Asian outbound travel markets; stakeholder roles in service quality; workplace relations; investment, planning and development in the accommodation sector; and education and training.

The social construction of tourist places

Martin Young — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:06:08 PDT

Ordinary places become tourist places when they are attributed particular meanings and values which appeal to and attract tourists. In this sense, tourist places are socially constructed and negotiated phenomena. This paper explores place meanings in the context of the Daintree and Cape Tribulation area, Far North Queensland, Australia. Two components of place meaning were examined. Firstly, the meanings of place produced by the tourist industry and, secondly, the meanings of place consumed by tourists visiting the area. There existed significant overlap between these constructions in spite of potentially conflicting on-site evidence, suggesting that actual experience of place does not significantly affect place meanings. This was confirmed by a comparison between different groups of tourists, which revealed that the meaning attributed to place was influenced by pre-visitation variables, including existing knowledge, and environmental preferences and experience. A conceptual model of tourist places is proposed, which argues that the success of a tourist place depends on the level of consensus on meanings negotiated between the systems of place production and place consumption.

The relationship between tourist motivations and the interpretation of place meanings

Martin Young — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:06:07 PDT

Current approaches in cultural geography suggest that how a place is interpreted is directly related to the metaphorical perspective from which that place is viewed. In other words, the meaning attributed to place is dependent on the orientations of particular groups and individuals. This idea was tested in the context of one nature-based tourist place by investigating the link between place meanings and the motivational profiles of 879 visitors to the Daintree and Cape Tribulation area of far North Queensland, Australia. Motivational groups were identified using a factor-cluster segmentation approach, while the meaning structure was developed by Young. Analysis of variance between the motivational clusters revealed that place was interpreted in the context of the motivational orientation of visitors. It is argued that by attributing selected meanings to place, visitors benefit psychologically through the fulfilment of motivational needs. Implications for management and research are discussed.

Cognitive maps of nature-based tourists

Martin Young — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:06:06 PDT

To investigate tourists' spatial conceptions of large-scale natural environments, this study explored sketch-maps drawn by a sample of 403 nature-based tourists visiting the Daintree and Cape Tribulation area, Australia. Multivariate comparisons of the style and content of sketch-maps revealed that visitors possessed a relatively limited spatial knowledge of the area, and that this knowledge varied according to the mode of travel, previous visitation, length of stay in the area, and the origin, age and gender of visitors. While the factors influencing environmental learning were identified, questions were raised concerning the salience of spatial knowledge in the overall experience of unfamiliar natural settings.

Evaluative constructions of domestic tourist places

Martin Young — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:06:06 PDT

Personal construct theory was used to study potential tourists' appraisive images of the major Australian domestic tourist destinations. Seven main evaluative constructs (bipolar discriminations) were identified as being commonly used to appraise destinations. The second stage of the research involved the scoring of places on those seven constructs by potential tourists. Principal components analysis of the resultant matrices showed that construct space generally comprised one main dimension which was labelled favourable - unfavourable. An exception was that older women used two dimensions when appraising destinations. These dimensions were labelled frenetic - relaxing and dull -exciting. Respondents distinguished clearly between destinations and the distinctions made were remarkably consistent over different groups of respondents defined on the basis of age, sex, and location.

Sites for sore eyes: an analysis of Australian tourism and hospitality web sites

Paul Weeks et al. — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:06:05 PDT

This study sought to examine the content of Australian-based tourism and hospitality Web sites reflecting the predominant features that organizations believe are essential on sites. The research was based on a previous study that examined hotel Web sites in North America. Using the Inference Find search engine, 20 sites in six tourism and hospitality sectors were chosen as the sample base. A checklist was devised to isolate features within each of the chosen sites. Totals for elements appearing on sites within each industry sector were calculated. Each sector was then analyzed to find differences and similarities of items included in these sites. Few sites included audio and video on their pages, a growing trend that suggests Web designers are more mindful of those of us who do not yet have state-of-the-art computers! On average, 48% of sites provided maps of locations, and 80% of all sites had updated their sites within the last 3 months, with travel agents and tour organizers updating more regularly. While more and more customers are turning to e-commerce, only 34% of sites offered their visitors provision for purchase on-line. E-mail addresses were the second most common feature found in the surveyed sites. The Accommodation sector appeared to be less keen than other sectors to tell its visitors about other accommodation or tourism sites. Functional groups within the surveyed sample varied considerably. The management functionality of the sites was extremely low across all sectors while the use of sites for promotion and advertising was consistently high.

Psychology, tourism, health and wealth

Iain Waller et al. — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:06:04 PDT

Australians work longer hours than most other OECD employees (Callus, 2002; Pocock, 2001), and are not effectively using their recreation leave. According to National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) figures, workplace accidents and diseases will cost the Australian economy over $50 billion in 2003. However, even this figure may understate matters (Mandryk, 2001). Organisations that don’t overwork their employees, offer more sociable hours and better than average leave periods tend to be more productive (Buchannan & Van Wanneroy, 2001). Illness brought about by workplace stress has resulted in legislation in countries such as Sweden, the UK and the Netherlands (Dollard, 2001) which has shown an improvement in cardiovascular risk, level of sleep disturbances and gastrointestinal complaints of employees. This paper provides a framework for future enquiry to increase our understanding of tourism and its relationship to psychology. This interface will have an increasing impact within health economics and the emerging field of Employment Relations.

Evaluative images and tourism: the use of personal constructs to describe the structure of destination images

DJ Walmsley et al. — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:06:04 PDT

Prior research at the regional scale suggests that two components underlie people's evaluations of tourist destina tions: arousing-sleepy and pleasant-unpleasant. A study was undertaken to see if these dimensions also apply at the international and local levels. Although their relevance at the local level appeared to be masked by individuals' personal experiences and knowledge, their applicability at the international scale supports the existence of an underlying general schema in environmental evaluation.

Gambling regulation: the case for managed risk

Stephen J. Toneguzzo et al. — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:06:03 PDT

The economic case for establishing a legal gambling industry is compelling and proven: investment, job creation, service industry growth and taxation. The counter arguments are generally centered on financial control (money laundering and payment of tax) and public welfare (crime and problem gambling). In order to realize the benefits, it is essential that government establish and maintain public confidence by acknowledging the risks, determining policy and establishing adequate controls to manage and mitigate risks. This paper will outline the path to establishing a legal gambling environment and in doing so, we will explore key policy areas, the risks to realizing the policy and critical factors in maintaining trust and public confidence. As most forms of gambling, financial and hospitality systems today are aided or controlled by technology, this paper will concentrate on technological controls and explore how rapidly evolving gambling technology can tend to drive public policy and push the limits of a government’s ability to regulate.