Strategies to prevent and reduce gambling harm in Australian women

Abstract

There are increasing global concerns about women’s participation in gambling, and their risk of gambling-related harm. Limited attention has been given to the range of specific and tailored strategies that may be used to prevent and reduce women’s risk of gambling-related harm. This study aimed to understand how key informants in Australia conceptualised the risks facing women who gamble, and the range of tailored strategies that could be used to respond. Online focus groups were conducted with n = 15 key informants working in gambling research, policy, prevention, treatment services, and five women with lived experience of gambling harm (as Experts by Experience). A reflexive approach to thematic analysis was used to guide the data interpretation. Gambling harm was recognised as a hidden problem for women. There were a number of knowledge gaps that key informants acknowledged they had about women, with participants suggesting that older rather than younger women were most at risk of experiencing gambling harm. Participants recommended a range of de-normalisation strategies that could specifically target women – including strategies to address the barriers for women attending recreational and social alternatives, co-producing public health messages with women for public education initiatives, and providing anonymous pathways for women to participate in advocacy for gambling reform.

Keywords:

• Gambling
• women
• harm
• risk
• key informant
• public health
• qualitative
• prevention
• experts by experience

Author contributions

SM was the lead researcher for this study. SM conceptualised the study, conducted focus group discussions, led the analysis and write up of the manuscript and contributed to critical revisions of the manuscript.

HP was the study investigator who contributed to the interpretation of the data and assisted the drafting and critical revisions of the manuscript.

M.E.B was the study investigator who contributed to the conceptualisation of the study, was involved in the interpretation of the data and helped with the drafting and revisions of the manuscript.

S.L.T was the Principal Investigator for this study. She contributed to the conceptualisation of the study, was involved in facilitating focus groups, aided the interpretation of the data and contributed to the drafting and critical revisions of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

SM currently receives an Australian Government Research Training Program stipend from Deakin University for her PhD related to gambling and women.

HP Has received funding for gambling research from the Australian Research Council, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and the New South Wales Office of Gaming.

M.E.B has received research grants in the last 5 years from the New Zealand Ministry of Health, KPMG and Homecare Medical (NZ) Ltd Partnership, and travel and related expenses from the Japan Academy of Integrated Resorts and Gaming Studies. She is a member of the Lotto NZ Responsible Gaming and Corporate Social Responsibility Voluntary Stakeholder Panel; she does not receive financial reimbursement for this role.

S.L.T Currently receives funding from the Australian Research Council Discovery Grant Scheme, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, and the New South Wales Office of Gaming for research relating to public health responses to gambling harm prevention. She has previously received funding for gambling research from the Australian Research Council Discovery Grant Scheme, and the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. She has received travel expenses for gambling speaking engagements from the European Union, Beat the Odds Wales, the Office of Gaming and Racing ACT, and the Royal College of Psychiatry Wales. She is a member of the Responsible Gambling Advisory Board for Lotterywest. She does not receive financial reimbursement for this role.

Notes

1 GambleAware is a charitable organisation funded by voluntary donations from the gambling industry that commissions gambling research, education and treatment services across the UK.