Perceptions of Gambling in Tamil and Chinese Communities in Australia: The Role of Saving Face in Perpetuating Gambling Stigma and Hindering Help Seeking

Characteristics of Gambling Helpline Callers in Macao: A Regional Comparison

Despite the continued focus on profiling gambling helpline callers, little is known about the characteristics of callers in Macao. To address this gap, this study aims to investigate the characteristics of problem gamblers calling the helpline in Macao and explore the regional differences between callers from Macao, mainland China, and Hong Kong. Specifically, the study examined their demographics, helpline usage, and gambling-related characteristics. The study used data collected by SKHSSCO between 2015 and 2021. The results showed that, at the aggregate level, the helpline callers in Macao were male, young, and full-time employees. The majority used the telephone and reported problems with casino table games. In addition, the referral rate was relatively low, while the rate of suicidal ideation was comparatively high. The results also revealed that callers from Macao, mainland China, and Hong Kong were notably distinct in these characteristics. The findings shed light on how to increase helpline accessibility and create tailored interventions and prevention efforts to better support individuals affected by problem gambling.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Gamblers of East Asian Descent in Australia: A Comprehensive Review of Current Evidence

As a country with one of the highest per capita gambling losses per year in the world, and an evolving multicultural profile, Australia has become an important setting in which to examine the harms and benefits related to gambling. The Australian population includes people from East Asian cultural backgrounds who are a key demographic of interest for gambling operators planning to grow revenue. However, Australian gambling research has concentrated primarily on those belonging to the dominant cultural group. Most of the previous and limited number of studies to examine gambling among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) residents have focused on people of Chinese descent, and much of the literature is now becoming relatively old. This review examines the current evidence around cultural variations in gambling prevalence, motivations, beliefs, behaviours, and help service utilisation, focusing on gamblers with an East Asian cultural background. Numerous domains in which gambling motivations and behaviours vary across cultural groups are identified, and methodological considerations related to ethnographic gambling research are discussed. This review found that while barriers and predictors to help-seeking for CALD gamblers have been studied extensively, contemporary evidence of help service utilisation and effectiveness in Australia is lacking. Further research providing an accurate assessment of the impacts of gambling for CALD gamblers is needed to ensure that harm minimisation resources are effective for those most vulnerable to harm.

Gamblers' use of measures to prevent gambling problems and reduce harm

In this study, the use of measures to control gambling were investigated. Data from gamblers (N = 5,878) participating in a cross-sectional survey in 2019 based on random sampling from the Norwegian Population Registry, were analysed. The survey included questions about use of eight measures, which comprised the dependent variables. Questions about sociodemographics, gambling behaviour, gambling problems, self-reported impact from gambling advertisement and beliefs in measures to control gambling comprised the predictor variables. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify significant predictors. Use of measures varied, ranging from 0.8% (contacting help services) to 23.2% (pre-commitment to affordable loss limits). All predictors had at least one significant association with the actual use of measures. Being a moderate risk or problem gambler was the most consistent predictor and was associated with the use of all eight measures. Being born outside Norway in a western or non-western country was associated with use of seven of the eight measures, whereas gambled online and participated in low-risk game only (inversely) were associated with use of six measures. Gender, age, game spending and beliefs in the usefulness of measures were associated with use of four measures. Participation in random games only was inversely associated with use of three measures. Self-reported impact from gambling advertisement was only (inversely) associated with self-testing for gambling problems. Several mechanisms responsible for the associations between predictors and the dependent variables are suggested, e.g., younger gamblers and moderate risk or problem gamblers may use these measures as they may acknowledge personal susceptibilities for developing gambling problems, such as impaired impulse control. Online gambling on the other hand was associated with use of various measures as the latter more often are integrated in online than offline gambling. Notably, the beliefs in measures as helpful was a significant predictor of use of four of the measures, which illustrates that positive views on the use of measures are not consistently associated with actual use of all the measures. Characteristics of the gamblers (e.g., place of birth, moderate risk or problem gambler), the game itself and the online distribution seem to be the most consistent predictors.