Gambling among Australian children: Findings from a study

New South Wales is the gambling capital of Australia, as many news reports from this place and a recent study commissioned by the local Responsible Gaming Foundation prove. The NSW Youth Gambling Study 2020 found that about 30 percent of young people were involved in gambling in one way or another. The study was conducted through offline and online surveys with more than 2,300 participants aged 12-17. The main results are based on the online survey: 2,220 participants.

The purpose of the study is to minimize the potential risks associated with gambling, especially for those under 18. It can be called a part of a wider responsible gambling strategy, which has recently been widely promoted by government agencies in Australia. To minimize the risks, a special program is introduced to raise awareness among parents, young people and society at large. The following are used for this purpose: the Internet, schools and sports.

The NSW Youth Gambling Study 2020 is a forced action rather than a personal preference of the Foundation for Responsible Gambling. The results of the study show that the attitude of the younger generation toward gambling is changing, caused by numerous external factors: general technological development, the high interest of young people in mobile devices, growth of advertising campaigns number, a wide choice of gambling for money. Thus, every young person is exposed to the influence of gambling on his or her immature mind.

The results of the study showed that the average age at which children have a tendency to gamble or to simulate it is 12 years. In 2020, 40% of the younger generation surveyed tried games with gambling components.

In 50% of the cases gambling adherence comes from parents and guardians who seem to entertain their children in this way. In 30% of the cases a child learns about gambling from buddies under the age of 17. In 20% of cases a child learns that it is okay to gamble from adult relatives. Also, in 20% of cases the child tries gambling thanks to grandparents. In 10% of the cases, the child’s first game was a solitary game. Also the research showed that 50% of the respondents see advertisements of gambling, betting on sports and other types of gambling for money on the Internet.

Parents have the greatest influence on young people. Children are more susceptible to gambling if they see their parents gambling themselves and approve of it. The study also found that a parent with a gambling addiction adds to a higher chance that their child will have the same addiction.

Reclaim the Game involves teachers who spread the specialized resources to raise awareness about gambling among sports teams and youth.

All of these measures are part of the new reforms to Australia’s gambling market. We’ve covered two such measures in other stories: Facial recognition technology in South Australian casinos and Gaming Cards: an innovation in the Australian gambling market.

Australia’s gaming market has once again distinguished itself with the NSW Youth Gambling Study 2020, which 2,300 children participated in on their own. A large number of participants is an indicator of the younger generation’s interest in playing responsibly. The research results will soon bear fruit that will benefit Australians of different ages.

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