Significant rise in Qld kids engaged in ‘risky’ gaming triggering calls for help

The state government is being urged to provide extra cash to help an increasing number of children who would be considered “problem gamblers”.

Relationships Australia is pleading with the state government to provide extra cash to help an increasing number of children who would be considered “problem gamblers”.

The Queensland branch of the counselling service noted more than 80 per cent of children aged 14 to 17 years now had access to a mobile phone and simulated gambling games.

Staggeringly, one in three high school students aged between 12 and 17 reported they had gambled.

Relationships Australia Queensland chief executive officer Natasha Rae has issued a formal request with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to expand the scope of its gambling help services “to be inclusive of children and young people”.

Ms Rae said an increasing number of children were engaging in “risky” gaming or gambling behaviour.

“We are experiencing younger and younger clients, particularly male clients, presenting with a history of risky behaviours that many report started well ahead of adulthood,”

She noted a grandmother told gambling support staff her two grandsons, aged 16 and 15, maxed out her credit card through online gambling during the school holidays.

“The proliferation of online gambling, sports betting and gaming apps has transformed the gambling landscape in Australia – gambling is now accessible any time, any place – with a broad shift towards gambling being more socially acceptable,” Ms Rae said.

“The evidence is clear – demonstrating a 40 per cent higher probability of spending real

money on gambling for those who played simulated games during adolescence.”

Ms Rae said young people were at higher risk of gambling-related harm due to exposure to parental problems and gaming-like features of video games that could act as a “gateway to gambling”.

With gambling help services expanded to include schools, the organisation expects to see an increase in younger people presenting.

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath says the state government is committed to working with advocacy groups. Picture: Liam Kidston

It’s prompted Relationships Australia’s Queensland branch to plead with the state government use Tuesday’s state budget to allocate $2m each year to help deal with increased calls to its gambling help line, run its website and extend support services.

It says, while there were mounting fears about child gamblers, the problem among adults was also worsening.

More than one third of calls to its gambling helpline are currently going unanswered while stretched practitioners assist people.

“Our current funding is insufficient to meet growing client need and complexity, with demand far outstripping capacity,” the submission to the government said.

Properly funding the service would require a total investment of $1.6m each year, more than double the $615,000 currently allocated.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said the government would work with advocacy groups to minimise gambling harm.

“I want to commend Relationships Australia Queensland for their strong advocacy in this area and we look forward to working with them into the future,” she said.

“The full details of the budget will be released on Tuesday.”