Helen Breen

Profiling Lady Luck: An Empirical Study of Gambling and Problem Gambling Amongst Female Club Members

This paper helps to address a deficiency of gender-specific research into gambling. It focuses on gambling participation, gaming machine play, and problem gambling amongst 1,257 female respondents to a telephone survey of 3,000 members selected randomly from the membership lists of six of the largest clubs in Sydney, Australia. Using predominantly non-parametric tests, results identify a range of behaviors that characterize the gambling activities of female club members when compared to their male counterparts. Testing four hypotheses revealed that, when compared to male club members, the females had a higher preference for bingo, lotto, lotteries, pools, and gaming machines; they gambled less frequently on off-course and on-course betting, casino table games and hotel gaming machines, but more frequently on bingo; they were more likely to display patterns of gaming machine play that maximize playing time; and they experienced problem gambling at levels comparable to males. Further research questions arising from the studys findings are discussed.

A comparison of survey methods to estimate visitor expenditure at a local event

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between special events’ expenditure and “social bravado” or peer pressure effects. The purpose was to compare the results of recalled expenditure survey data using individual vs. individual but within-group interviews, with a view to establishing the extent to which “social bravado” or peer pressure affects the results. This study replicated the Faulkner and Rayboulds research (Festival Manage. Event Tourism 3 (2) (1995) 73) which found the diary recall method more accurate than the interview recall; food and beverage expenditure recorded in diaries was found to be less than that with recall interviews and expenditure by females was less than that by males. They suggested that this was possibly due to a “social bravado” effect when males reported this expenditure in the presence of their peers. This study explored the “social bravado” factor using expenditure survey data, collected singly and singly but within groups. These findings strongly echo those of Faulkner and Raybould (1995) by eliciting some significant differences in reported expenditure particularly where peer pressure may have been involved. Results and discussion in the paper confirmed previous findings about the effects of memory decay and peer pressure. These are examples of specific behavioural characteristics that can influence survey results.

Stigma and problem gambling: current knowledge and future research directions

Stigma has been identified as a major barrier to help-seeking, treatment and recovery from gambling problems. However, little research has attempted to examine in any depth the causes, characteristics and consequences of stigma in relation to people experiencing gambling problems. The effects of stigma on people experiencing gambling problems, although not directly examined, are apparent through low rates of problem disclosure and treatment-seeking. In this paper, we aim to inform research into stigma associated with problem gambling by highlighting gaps in existing research and by providing direction for future research. The contribution of this paper is that for the first time stigma and problem gambling are drawn together and reviewed using broad constructs and literature from a range of seminal and new sources to present a synthesis of new and important information on stigma. In regard to problem gambling, the dimensions of stigma, except for origin, have yet to be investigated, as well as the processes of stigma creation, the characteristics of public and felt stigma, and coping strategies used to manage stigma. The practical implications of this review are summarized in a framework provided to inform future research into stigma related to problem gambling.

Exploring women's problem gambling: a review of the literature

Problem gambling is a social issue that increasingly involves women; however, research into gambling and gambling problems amongst women has not kept pace with the feminization of gambling. The aims of this paper are to review relevant literature, discuss research findings on distinctive features of womens gambling, and consider various explanations for gender differences in gambling. While minimal gendered gambling research has been conducted over the past decade, gender differences are apparent in relation to progression to problem gambling, gambling preferences and motivations. Drawing on literature including social capital theory, gender role theory, socialization and cultural geography helps to illuminate why, for instance, for some older women, their gambling increases as their gendered caring role decreases. A better understanding of womens experiences of gambling will allow practical prevention, harm-minimization and treatment strategies to be implemented, and for womens concerns and needs to be accommodated in gambling policy.

Visitors to Northern Australia: Debating the History of Indigenous Gambling

Was gambling introduced to Indigenous Australians1 by British colonists in 1788 or was it introduced by Macassan fishermen much earlier? Using a variety of literature resources, it is argued that Indigenous Australian gambling did exist in regions along Australias northern coastlines in pre-colonial times due to the influence of Macassan fishermen. Using an anthropological model, the adoption of card games and gambling is seen as an adaptive response to changes in the lives of Indigenous Australians. It is also argued that Bindes (2005) four conditions for predicting the presence of gambling in traditional societies are not reliable indicators for predicting gambling by Indigenous Australians in northern Australia in pre-colonial times.

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.

Employee Stress and Stressors in Gambling and Hospitality Workplaces

Employee stress has harmful effects for employees, organizations, families and society. However, employee stress, and the workplace stressors that create it, go largely unaddressed by organizations. Hospitality workplaces, including gaming venues, appear especially conducive environments for employee stress, although little research has focused on stressors in gaming venues. Through qualitative analysis of data from a previous study of gaming venue employees, the authors of this study investigated stressors in gambling workplaces. The analysis revealed that employment conditions, shift work, demanding work roles, emotional labor, patron interactions, uncertainty and lack of control, legal responsibilities, ethical concerns, and super-charged environments are key stressors for employees in gambling workplaces. In this regard, gaming venue employees may face additional stressors to hospitality employees more generally. Policy and practical implications for human resource managers are discussed.

Aboriginal gambling and problem gambling: a review

The prevention of gambling-related problems amongst Aboriginal communities has been neglected by most public health strategies which concentrate on mainstream populations. Research indicates that rates of problem gambling are higher for Aboriginal groups than the general population. Specific cultural, familial, and social patterns influence gambling by Aboriginal groups, which are individually different, making it difficult to implement a cohesive strategy to address gambling-related harms. Because of this complexity, a thorough literature review is necessary to identify gaps in policy and research. This paper uses a public health framework to consider multi-dimensional influences (personal, environmental, economic, cultural and social) that affect gambling uptake. Such analysis is also important for identifying risk factors which facilitate the development and maintenance of problem gambling and potentially for underpinning protection, prevention and treatment programs. It is advised that strategies be developed in consultation with Aboriginal peoples to guide public health policy and research to minimise any gambling-related harms.

A profile of gaming machine players in clubs in Sydney, Australia.

New South Wales, Australia, is one of the major markets in the world for machine gaming, with its 1,441 registered clubs holding the dominant share of the states machines. This study examined machine gambling behavior amongst a random sample of 3,000 club members from six of the largest clubs in Sydney, the capital city of New South Wales. The findings identify their machine gambling preferences and participation levels, isolate significant sociodemographic and other differences between gaming machine and non-gaming machine players, measure the prevalence of probable pathological gambling associated with machine gambling, and identify certain characteristics which differ significantly between probable pathological and non-pathological machine gamblers amongst the respondents.

Risk and Protective Factors Relating to Gambling by Employees of Gaming Venues

This paper examines how the work environment in gaming venues can influence employee gambling behaviour and how gaming venues can further discourage problem gambling by their staff. Interviews with 86 staff and 73 managers of clubs, hotels and casinos, and with 32 gambling counsellors and six problem gamblers who work in gaming venues revealed numerous workplace factors that can encourage, discourage or have no influence on employee gambling. These are synthesised into a theoretical framework and risk, moderating and protective factors and interventions relating to propensity to gamble, gambling products and services, and gambling outcomes and consequences for gaming venue staff are identified.