Study finds worst gambling suburbs
MORE than 5000 people will be quizzed about their betting habits to discover which suburbs and towns have the highest concentration of gambling addicts.
NSW
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MORE than 5000 people will be quizzed about their betting habits to discover which suburbs and towns have the highest concentration of gambling addicts.
The state government’s Office of Responsible Gambling is spending $475,000 on a new “gambling prevalence” study to help map the geographic spread of problem gamblers and identify “cluster areas”.
Documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph state the research will quiz participants on “their gambling behaviour, demographic information, problem gambling risk factors, the positive and negative impacts of gambling behaviour, gambling regulation and Gambling Help services.”
It will also explore the impact of online betting on problem gamblers and the success of voluntary self-exclusion programs that allow addicts to ban themselves from venues.
“With the proliferation of sports bet marketing and the diversification of gambling products and offerings it is critical to undertake a more recent study to measure changes in gambling behaviour and emerging trends,” the documents state.
Minister for Racing Paul Toole said the study would provide a better understanding on the impacts of gambling in NSW.
“This study will give the government a better understanding of the impacts of all forms of gambling, as well as changes in behaviour and trend,” Mr Toole said.
“The results will guide our efforts in preventing and reducing gambling harm and ensure resources are targeted to where they are most needed.”
A spokesman for Liquor and Gaming NSW said a research firm was expected to be appointed by April with the aim of completing the study by the end of the year.
“The study will also allow a comparison with a previous study in 2012 that found the rate of problem gambling in the community was 0.8 per cent,” he said.
The University of Sydney’s Sally Gainsbury said online gambling tended to attract younger clients who were typically male.
“This research will be helpful but it’s important it’s not the only research the government does,” Dr Gainsbury said.
“It should be followed up with additional research that asks the hard questions.”