Southern Cross UniversityePublications@SCU
School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
2013
The impact of partial liberalization of internetgambling: a comparison of internet and non-internet gamblersSally M. GainsburySouthern Cross University
Nerilee HingSouthern Cross University
Alex RussellSouthern Cross University
Alex BlaszczynskiUniversity of Sydney
Robert WoodUniversity of Lethbridge
See next page for additional authors
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Publication detailsGainsbure, SM, Hing, N, Russell, A, Blaszczynski, A, Wood, R & Lubman, D 2013, 'The impact of partial liberalization of internetgambling: a comparison of internet and non-internet gamblers', paper presented to the 15th International Conference on Gambling &Risk Taking, Las Vegas, Nevada, 27-31 May.
AuthorsSally M. Gainsbury, Nerilee Hing, Alex Russell, Alex Blaszczynski, Robert Wood, and Dan Lubman
This presentation is available at ePublications@SCU: http://epubs.scu.edu.au/tourism_pubs/1961
Interactive Gambling in Australia
Sally Gainsbury
15th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking
May 30, 2013
What forms of Internet gambling are legal in Australia?
What forms of Internet gambling are illegal?
Interactive gambling in Australia
~ 30-35 Australian sites
~ 2,242 sites accept play from Australia
~ 194 payment methods accepted
~ AUD$1 billion spent on offshore sites
Zero operators or sites prosecuted
Online gambling participation increasing
Prohibition is not effective
Why do we need to understand interactive gambling?
• Concerns & possible impacts:
– Land-based industry
– Increase gambling
– Vulnerable populations
– Increased gambling problems
• A new type of gambling?
Advantages of Internet gambling
1. Don’t have to leave the house
2. Availability/convenience
3. No crowds
4. No unpleasant people
5. Greater privacy & anonymity
6. More physically comfortable
7. Higher payout rates
Source: Gainsbury, Wood, Russell, Hing, & Blaszczynski, 2012
Disadvantages of Internet gambling
1. Too convenient
2. Easier to spend money
3. More addictive
4. Poorer social atmosphere
5. Concerns about money/deposits
Source: Gainsbury, Wood, Russell, Hing, & Blaszczynski, 2012
Research: Interactive Gambling Study
• Commissioned by Gambling Research Australia to determine interactive gambling:
– Prevalence
– Motivations, characteristics and behaviours
– Game play & medium preferences
• Research team: Nerilee Hing, Sally Gainsbury, Alex Blaszczynski, Robert Wood, Alex Russell, Dan Lubman
• These findings are preliminary and not final
Interactive Gambling Study
• Nationally representative telephone survey – 15,006 Australian adults (18+)
• November-December, 2011
• Interactive gambler: anyone who has gambled using interactive methods in past 12 months – May also use land-based forms
• Land-based gambler: anyone who has gambled in past 12 months only on non-interactive forms
Prevalence of gambling in 2011
• Past-year prevalence of adult gambling: 64.26%
– 1998/99 prevalence 82%
• Past-year prevalence of interactive gambling: 8.06%
– 1998/99 prevalence 0.6%
Source: Interactive Gambling Study, Productivity Commission 1999 Note: Findings are preliminary and not final
National participation in gambling activities
Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final
43
31
22 19
13
9 9 6
3 2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Lottery Scratchtickets
Racebetting
EGMs Sportsbetting
Keno Casinogames
Poker Bingo Bettingon skill
games
%
43
31
22 19
13 9 9
6 3 2
60
46
24
39
6
16
10
5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Lottery Scratchtickets
Racebetting
EGMs Sportsbetting
Keno Casinogames
Poker Bingo Bettingon skillgames
%
2011 1999
Participation in gambling activities 1999 vs. 2011
Source: Interactive Gambling Study; Productivity Commission, 1999 Note: Findings are preliminary and not final
Annual gambling participation
Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final
52
68
54
64
7
19 20
29
4
43
49
67
16
31
4
13
8 11
2
28
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Lottery Scratch
tickets
Race
betting
EGMs Sports
betting
Keno Casino
games
Poker Bingo Betting
on skillgames
%
Interactive Gamblers Land-based Gamblers
Average proportion of each gambling activity done online
Note: For those who gambled on each form online Low N, interpret figures with caution Source: Interactive Gambling Study, Note: Findings are preliminary and not final
58
25
72
30
76
33
79
71
64
85
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Lottery Scratchtickets
Racebetting
EGMs Sportsbetting
Keno Casinogames
Poker Bingo Bettingon skill
games
%
Characteristics of Interactive Gamblers
• Compared to land-based gamblers, interactive gamblers are more likely to be:
– Male
– Younger
– Single or living with partner
– University educated
– Employed full-time or student
– Have broadband Internet access at home & work
Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final
Interactive gamblers
• Majority gambled online since 2009
• Computers preferred mode of interactive gambling
87
9 3
0
20
40
60
80
100
Computer Mobile Portable device
%
Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final
Interactive gamblers
• 52% prefer interactive gambling
• 48% prefer land-based gambling
• Some unique problems:
– 17% increase spending due to credit cards/electronic money
– 10% sleep disruption
– 4% disrupted eating
Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final
Prevalence of adult problem gambling
Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final
36
52
8
4
1
Non-gambler
No problem
Low risk
Moderate risk
Problem gambler
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
%
Problem gambling among land-based and interactive gamblers
Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final
59
25
14
3
81
12
6
1
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
No problem
Low risk
Moderate risk
Problem gambler
%
Land-based gamblers Interactive gamblers
Conclusions • Participation in gambling is shifting in terms of what
and how people gamble
• Internet gamblers are more involved in this activity
– But not a homogeneous group
• Unique problems related to Internet gambling
• Continuing research is needed
• Policies to specifically address harms
Acknowledgments
Funding: Gambling Research Australia
Collaborators: Nerilee Hing, Alex Russell, Alex Blaszczynski, Dan Lubman, Robert Wood
The views expressed in this presentation are solely those of the author/s. The information, views and references material in this presentation are provided solely on the basis that the audience will be responsible for making their own assessment of the information provided
Thank you
Dr Sally Gainsbury Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Gambling Education & Research,
Southern Cross University
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://works.bepress.com/sally_gainsbury/
@DrSalGainsbury