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34% of Australian bets come from problem gamblers
Australians are among the world’s most active gamblers, with problem gamblers accounting for 34% of all bets, according to a new Roy Morgan poll.
The polling results were presented by the Alliance for Gambling Reform, a non-profit organization campaigning for tighter gambling legislation and higher consumer protections in the country, including harsher punishments for enterprises who operate gambling products.
In an official statement, the AGR’s Interim Chief Executive, Martin Thomas, stated that consumers are historically high risk and highlighted how “predatory” the online gambling sector has become, enticing new generations to engage in irresponsible gambling.
Thomas added:
“We know that last year there were over a million gambling ads bombarding our screens. We have to stop this.”
A more detailed analysis of the data collected by the pollster was included with the report. The results of the survey, which involved 16,000 people, show that one in ten, or 337,000, citizens of the nation suffer from gambling addiction. While they make up only 10% of all gamblers, they are responsible for approximately 34% of the total amount of money wagered through regulated websites.
The survey also found that 544,000 Australians, or 17% of the gambling population, are considered to be moderate-risk gamblers. An index that differentiates between players with Low, Moderate, and Problem Gambling provides the basis for this classification: the Problem Gambling Severity Index.
The results also revealed that some gambling companies may have up to 20% of their customer base as problem gamblers. In sum, 881,000 Australian gamblers identify as moderate or problem gamblers.
Thomas has been critical of the amount of advertising that has contributed to the “normalization” of gambling, creating an equivalence between sports and gambling in the eyes of many Australians, particularly the most vulnerable – young people and children. Australia has been paying attention to problem gambling. The country developed the BetStop national self-exclusion program, which has been widely praised for its effectiveness.
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