Electronic gambling machine harm in older women: a public health determinants perspective

Abstract

Background: Women make up a significant proportion of all gamblers globally. However, there has been limited research which has explored women’s gambling and the factors that may make women, and subgroups of women, vulnerable to harm.

Methods: Using a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 women aged 55 years and over who regularly gambled on electronic gambling machines (EGMs).

Results Key factors were identified to illustrate older women’s experiences of gambling and are presented according to four determinants of health: Individual; socio-cultural; environmental; and commercial. While this research confirms that older women’s gambling behaviors are strongly influenced by individual and socio-cultural factors, gambling environments, and industry practices are also influential.

Conclusion A model illustrates the interplay of individual, socio-cultural, environmental, and commercial determinants, and the article proposes how they may contribute to gambling harm in older Australian women.

Keywords:

• Addictions
• gambling
• lived experience
• older women
• women’s health
• commercial determinants of health

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 from the Australian Research Council, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and the NSW Office of Responsible Gaming.

MEB 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.

ST currently receives funding from the Australian Research Council Discovery Grant Scheme, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, and the New South Wales Office of Responsible Gaming for research relating to public health responses to gambling harm prevention. 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 SEIFA ranks areas in Australia from 1 to 10 based on relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage.