Ashley Gordon

Indigenous gambling motivations, behaviour and consequences in Northern New South Wales, Australia

Against a background of public health, we sought to examine and explain gambling behaviours, motivations and consequences of Indigenous Australians in northern New South Wales. Adhering to national Aboriginal and ethical guidelines and using qualitative methods, 169 Indigenous Australians were interviewed individually and in small groups using semi-structured interviews. Over 100 in-depth interviews were conducted. Using thematic analysis, the results indicate a range of contrasting social and more problematic gambling behaviours, motivations and consequences. Acknowledging the cultural distinctiveness of Indigenous gambling and distinguishing between their social and more problematic gambling behaviours, motivations and consequences can assist with public health prevention, harm reduction and treatment programs for Indigenous gamblers in all parts of Australia.

Gambling Behaviour and Gambling Risk Factors for Indigenous Australian Women

Minimal detailed research has been conducted into gambling by Indigenous women, despite indications from previous studies that they tend to be highly involved gamblers and a high risk group for gambling problems. This quantitative analysis investigates key aspects of gambling by Indigenous Australian women and determines risk factors underpinning problem gambling. Study participants were 687 Indigenous women recruited from Indigenous sports and cultural festivals. The survey instrument focused on socio-demographic characteristics, age of first gamble, gambling motivations, gambling behaviour, substance use while gambling, problem gambling severity, harms arising from gambling and help-seeking efforts. The findings reveal elevated rates of gambling participation, especially on poker machines, and a high prevalence of gambling problems when compared to the general population. Indigenous women who are motivated to gamble to socialise with friends and family are significantly less likely to be problem gamblers. However, risk factors for problem gambling include gambling on a greater number of gambling forms, high gambling expenditure, early onset of gambling, escape-based gambling motivations, self-reported addiction to gambling, and using alcohol and drugs while gambling. Findings point to an urgent need for culturally appropriate treatment for Indigenous Australian women with gambling problems. Culturally appropriate community education and harm minimisation measures should also be available for Indigenous women who gamble given the seemingly high proportion likely to experience at least some harm from gambling. The cost of such approaches would be returned in the enhanced health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australian women, their families and communities.

Respecting cultural values: conducting a gambling survey in an Australian Indigenous community

Objective: This paper details how we, as ‘cultural outsiders’, conducted a large gambling survey in an Indigenous Australian community that adhered to Indigenous ethical protocols and values while differing from some standard survey practices.

A case study of gambling involvement and its consequences

Gambling has attracted minimal recent research in leisure studies. Focusing on Indigenous Australian gambling, this article draws on theoretical frameworks in leisure and gambling to develop gambling involvement profiles. Using qualitative methods, 169 Indigenous Australians were interviewed. Thematic analysis generated three typical gambler profiles—light, binge and heavy gamblers—distinguishable by different gambling behaviors, motivations and consequences. Analysis of the dimensions of leisure involvement revealed that light and heavy gamblers differed according to importance/interest, pleasure, centrality, self-expression, social bonding, risk probability, and risk consequence. The article demonstrates the application to gambling of certain leisure involvement constructs.

Gambling among Indigenous men and problem gambling risk factors: an Australian study

This paper aims to analyse the gambling activities and problem gambling risk factors for Indigenous Australian men, a topic which has previously drawn very little research attention. Using quantitative methods, we obtained a convenience sample of 1,259 women and men at Indigenous festivals, online and in several communities. This paper reports only on the responses of all 489 men in this sample. Risk factors significantly associated with problem gambling were being separated, divorced or widowed, working part-time, early gambling onset, using alcohol and/or drugs while gambling and spending high amounts of money on a favourite gambling form. Motivations significantly associated with risks of problem gambling were gambling to relax, because most family members and friends also gamble and self-reported addiction to gambling. However men who gamble to socialise with family and friends were significantly less likely to be problem gamblers. Risk factor identification may facilitate the development of effective preventative measures and risk management plans for Indigenous men.

Indigenous Australian gambling crime and possible interventions: a qualitative study

This paper has two purposes. First, we examine crime associated with the consequences of card and commercial gambling by Indigenous Australians in two states, in north Queensland (QLD) and in northern New South Wales (NSW). Second, we identify public health interventions potentially useful for reducing harmful gambling consequences. Permission was granted by Indigenous Elders and a university ethics committee to conduct this research. Using qualitative methods and purposeful sampling, interviews were conducted with 229 Indigenous Australians and 79 non-Indigenous gambling help counsellors, gaming venue managers and others. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interviews. Results show two types of crime were most evident, those committed to support a gambling habit (fraud and theft) and family dysfunction. Potential interventions reported to hold promise for minimising some harmful gambling consequences include: appropriate community education and awareness campaigns targeting Indigenous gamblers, families and their communities; the provision of Indigenous gambling outreach services; and culturally appropriate gambling counselling and treatment services. As gambling issues are interlinked with cultural, social and economic influences, the real challenge is to work with regional Indigenous communities to develop and deliver relevant holistic interventions appropriate to their needs.

Meanings of Aboriginal gambling across New South Wales, Australia

A social perspective of gambling explains gambling as a consequence of the social, structural and cultural environment in which gamblers live. In the Australian Indigenous context the social perspective is important, given the significance of community and family ties. This paper aims to explore meanings of Aboriginal gambling across New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Taking an interpretivist stance, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 knowledgeable Indigenous Australians, key elected and nominated state representatives. Meanings of Aboriginal gambling included the collective activity of gambling within social networks in the hope of a win. More problematic meanings of gambling were always gambling to win, chasing losses and continual financial distress which appeared to reduce social network bonds. Contrasting problem gambling with recreational gambling revealed that some Indigenous gamblers use their existing cultural and kin relationships on which many of their social networks are based to gamble together in a controlled recreational manner.

Gambling impacts on Aboriginal communities in New South Wales, Australia: community leaders’ perspectives

Gambling affects communities in many ways, yet relatively little research has investigated community level impacts of gambling in the context of Indigenous communities. To help address this gap in research, this research investigates the impacts of gambling on Aboriginal communities across New South Wales, Australia. Thirteen Aboriginal community leaders were interviewed by an Aboriginal member of the research team. Interviews were semi-structured, in-depth and conducted by telephone. The results showed some culturally distinctive positive and negative gambling impacts were being experienced across different Aboriginal communities. Positive impacts were reported as collective socialising and the opportunity to win money. Negative impacts were said to be community deprivation and cultural obligations not being fulfilled. Several important public health strategies to reduce negative gambling impacts were suggested. These were to enable self-recognition of gambling difficulties by the gambler, to use already established Aboriginal support groups to assist in this process, and to design and provide culturally appropriate public education and gambling awareness programs targeted at a community level. Recognising differences between communities, involvement by local Aboriginal people in developing and providing public health programs is recommended.