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Pathways to Excessive Gambling – Are young people’s approaches to gambling an indication of future gambling propensity?: 

Pathways to Excessive Gambling – Are young people’s approaches to gambling an indication of future gambling propensity? Dr Charlotte Fabiansson Department of Sociology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia Email: Charlotte.Fabiansson@scmp.mq.edu.au

Research framework: 

Research framework Question: if future gambling propensity can be identified among young people’s attitudes to gambling activities the role of the youth’s social and cultural environment family environment social entertainment environment gambling environment

Explored objectives: 

Explored objectives the manner of introduction to gambling activities social recreational activities students’ interest in gambling activities reactions to losing money on gambling gambling above available funds the influence of social and cultural capital family tradition young people’s self-perception, feelings of social inclusion community affiliation

Perceptions of young people’s abilities to influence their future: 

Perceptions of young people’s abilities to influence their future Young people’s ability to: internalise social and cultural capital from the family milieu and from the surrounding community environment (Bourdieu 1986, 1993) to adopt ‘an objective’ perspective on their self-development, adaptation and change both be producers and products of social systems (Caprara, Pastorelli, Regalia, Scabini, and Bandura 2005: 72; Bandura 1986; 2001; Caprara and Cervone 2000)

Definition of gambling: 

Definition of gambling Gambling for money: … staking of money on the outcome of games or events involving chance or skill (Slade and McConville 2003: 2) Gambling features: the element of risk, the possibility to win, lose or status quo, a social or co-operative activity where making a bet involves gambling against something, a person, activity or machine, a deliberate activity that a person is taking part in on a voluntary basis (Smith and Wynne 2002: 17)

Scope of gambling in Australia: 

Scope of gambling in Australia Annually: eight out of ten adult Australians gamble for money (legal for people 18 years of age and older) two out of five gamble regularly one in five gamble periodically at an unsustainable level (Productivity Commission 1999) for every excessive gambler another ten people close to the gambler (family, friends and work colleagues) are affected by the gambling Most addictive gambling form -electronic gaming machines (poker or slot machines)

Gamblers’ profile : 

Gamblers’ profile The regular adult gambler is likely to be: male a young person (18 - 34 years) or a mature person (50-64 years) single live outside a metropolitan area born in Australia less likely to: have a university education, be working in a full time salary position, have an above average income, (Productivity Commission 1999: 3.18-19)

Background - Youth Sample: 

Background - Youth Sample Youth sample: 751 high school students aged 14-21 years Survey: self administered questionnaire, during school time Sub-sample (N=368), Young people who classified their gambling pursuits 66.8 per cent social gamblers (N=246) 70.9 per cent females 62.1 per cent males 33.3 per cent competitive gamblers (N=122) 29.1 per cent females 37.9 per cent males

Background - Adult Sample: 

Background - Adult Sample Adult sample: 21 case studies 57.1 per cent (12 females) 42.9 per cent (9 males) age range 21 to 65 years Information collated by gambling counsellors The youth and the adult research are explorative in nature

Youth sample: 

Youth sample Research question: ‘The table below lists many different forms of wagering and gaming activities; some of them can be played in your local community; others can be undertaken over the internet or in the bigger cities. We would like to know which gambling activities you have participated in during the last 5 years.’ Youth’s gambling experiences 78 per cent of the high school students had gambled for money at least once during the last five years (Fabiansson 2006: 350)

Gambling propensity - social and cultural capital: 

Gambling propensity - social and cultural capital Gambling environment young people’s gambling undertaken in collaboration with parents within a family entertainment situation parents’ act as proxies for their children parents undertake the financial transaction by purchasing gambling products (e.g. lotteries and wagering) (Fabiansson 2006; cf. Griffiths 1998)

Gambling venues - social environment: 

Gambling venues - social environment Gambling facilities: local sports clubs in lower socio-economic areas the gambling area by law separated from the main dining area, social entertainment restricted choices affordable entertainment families and friends socialise at the community sports club the children play keno or other gambling games for money (organised by the parents) gambling pursuits an integrated part of the social entertainment children are introduced to gambling in a protective and family friendly social environment.

Gambling scope: 

Gambling scope Being upset about losing money social gamblers 14.0 per cent being upset about losing money 38.3 per cent more likely to loose more money than anticipated 52.2 per cent would spend less than five dollars during an evening 6.7 per cent likely to gamble with more money than planned competitive gamblers 41.7 per cent being upset about losing money 57. 8 per cent more likely to loose more money than anticipated 26.1 per cent would spend less than five dollars during an evening 32,9 per cent likely to gamble with more money than planned Differences significant otherwise noted

Gambling scope: 

Gambling scope

Social exclusion and community affiliation: 

Social exclusion and community affiliation feeling at home in the communities social gamblers 15.4 per cent did not feel at home in the community 18.4 per cent females 11.4 per cent males competitive gamblers 33.6 per cent did not feel at home in the community 36.8 per cent females 30.6 per cent males not members of any community organisation social gamblers - 22.4 per cent competitive gamblers - 39.3 per cent were

Social exclusion and community affiliation - not feeling at home in the communities: 

Social exclusion and community affiliation - not feeling at home in the communities

Get help from friends: 

Get help from friends can count on help from friends social gamblers 89.8 per cent could count on help from friends 91.5 per cent of the females 87.6 per cent of the males competitive gambles 72.7 per cent could count on help from friends 70.7 per cent of the females 74.6 per cent of the males

Feeling safe in the local community: 

Feeling safe in the local community Feeling safe safe in the community during the day 55.3 per cent social gamblers 41.0 per cent competitive gamblers safe in the community after dark 15 per cent of social and completive felt very safe in the communities after dark (Fabiansson 2007b)

Telephone contact: 

Telephone contact Telephone contact with friends the day before the research day 39.4 per cent social gamblers 57 per cent competitive gamblers even if the competitive gamblers were presenting themselves as less settled in the communities they were more inclined to telephone friends than the social gamblers significant difference low

Youth vs adult sample: 

Youth vs adult sample Youth sample Young people introduces by family and friends Gambling place the local sports club a social recreational activity a safe family friendly atmosphere Adult sample Introduce as young people by family and friends Gambling place the local sports club a social recreational activity a safe family friendly atmosphere

Youth vs adult sample: 

Youth vs adult sample Youth sample Competitive gambler start at a young age gambling for winning - not social entertainment focus on the win not the loss to gain the win possible that gambling is compensating for lack of status among friends or in society (school or sports) Adult sample Excessive gambler start at a young age gambling for winning - not social entertainment focus on the win not the loss to gain the win gambling compensate for lack of status within the family, among friends and/ or in society (relationship problems)

Youth vs adult sample: 

Youth vs adult sample Youth sample Competitive gambler social isolation - less sure of friends’ support less involvement in community social events Adult sample Excessive gambler social isolation depending on individual circumstances (borrowed money) less involvement in community social events as gambling consumes free time

Conclusion: 

Conclusion Young & adult gamblers introduced to gambling activities by family and friends as social entertainment majority continue to be social gamblers, others start excessive gambling the social gambling develops into competitive gambling gamble to win losing ‘only bad luck’ regularly gamble above accessible funds - until all money are gone, owned and borrowed live in residential areas with high access to gambling venues low access to other affordable entertainment

Social indicators: 

Social indicators Are young people’s approaches to gambling an indication of future gambling propensity?

Pathways to Excessive Gambling – Are young people’s approaches to gambling an indication of future gambling propensity?: 

Pathways to Excessive Gambling – Are young people’s approaches to gambling an indication of future gambling propensity? Dr Charlotte Fabiansson Department of Sociology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia Email: Charlotte.Fabiansson@scmp.mq.edu.au