Sports betting and advertising

Summary: Reviews the growth of sports betting and the accompanying proliferation of sports betting advertising, with particular focus on its integration into sporting events and broadcasts.It draws on lessons from the advertising of other potentially harmful products, and synthesises research into gambling advertising and the promotion of sports betting. Key messages Sports betting has grown substantially and is emerging as a significant contributor to problem gambling, especially among younger adult males. There is considerable community opposition to the prolific promotion of gambling through sport, especially related to potential negative impacts for children, adolescents, young men and problem gamblers. Research into the advertising of other harmful products suggests advertising increases uptake and consumption, especially in the adolescent starter market. Research into sports betting advertising suggests it can shape gambling attitudes, intentions and behaviours, and impacts most negatively on existing problem gamblers and sports bettors

Improving Competitiveness Through Cooperation: Assessing The Benefits Of Cooperative Education Partnerships In Gaming Management

Cooperative education partnerships between industries and universities are becoming increasingly common in response to fundamental challenges facing both sectors. Theoretically, many benefits for both partners are espoused. This paper explores these benefits and then assesses whether and how these have occurred in a leading gaming management course in Australia. It was found that benefits for industry comprised enhanced industry professionalism and legitimacy; increased professional status; better public image; control of abstract knowledge and improved industry competitiveness. For the university, key benefits have included improved educational offerings; enhanced university reputation in the discipline and for cooperative education partnerships; additional student fees and economies of scale; and funds for discipline development and research and consultancy opportunities. However, precautions need to be taken in cooperative education partnerships if a university\u27s social contract is to remain intact in a climate of increased commercialization, and if it is to deliver expected benefits to industry

Indigenous Australians and gambling

Summary: This paper synthesises information published about Indigenous Australian gambling, and summarises issues and implications for key stakeholders. It is relevant for raising awareness and promoting community education about gambling for Indigenous Australians. Key messages Gambling is part of the social and cultural fabric of many Indigenous communities. Gambling rates are much higher among Indigenous Australians than in the wider Australian population, especially on “pokies” or electronic gaming machines. Positive consequences for Indigenous Australians who gamble include social engagement and social acceptance, reduced isolation, pleasure, physical comfort, an opportunity to win money, and some reduced alcohol consumption. Problem gambling and gambling-related harms are much more common among Indigenous Australians than in the wider Australian population. Cultural expectations to gamble and to share resources with relatives results in gambling-related harms stretching across whole Indigenous communities. Intergenerational transfer of gambling culture compounds ongoing gambling problems among Indigenous Australian communities. Risk factors common to Indigenous Australians include exposure to gambling as a child, high gambling expenditure, drinking alcohol and using drugs while gambling, and gambling to escape life concerns. Help-seeking rates are as low as in the wider population. To avoid shame and stigma, Indigenous persons first try to help themselves, they then turn to family, friends and community members. Family and friends struggle to assist problem gamblers, however, due to social norms approving gambling and low problem gambling recognition. &nbsp

Challenges in Responsible Provision of Gambling: Questions of Efficacy, Effectiveness and Efficiency

This paper aims to explain why responsible provision of gambling is an important corporate social issue facing many gambling providers by examining its status with reference to three characteristic features of such issues proposed in the corporate social responsibility literature--expectational gaps, impacts and controversy (Wartick and Mahon, 1994). The existence of expectational gaps, impacts and controversy relating to contemporary gambling operations thus clarifies why gambling providers are under pressure to manage their gambling operations in a more socially responsible manner. A second aim is to clarify why resolving this issue has been difficult. Drawing on a second explanatory framework from the corporate social responsibility literature (Waddock and Mahon, 1991 ), the paper identifies three areas hindering the resolution of this issue between gambling providers and key stakeholders-lack of agreement over the facts (efficacy), lack of agreement over goals (effectiveness) and lack of agreement over the means to achieve these goals (efficiency). By examining these existing barriers, it is hoped that some pathways to the issue\u27s resolution may be illuminated. Examples from Australia underpin the discussion

Competing Forces in Sustainable Gambling: Towards a Balanced Approach

Social responsibility in gambling is increasingly becoming both a policy issue for governments and industries, and a management issue for gambling operators. While many legalized commercial gambling operators adopt a purely economic orientation to their business, non-profit, charity gambling operators tend to focus on the social benefits of their activities. This paper argues that neither a purely economic nor social orientation to gambling is sustainable in the long-term, but that a balance between the two is needed. A well accepted model of corporate social responsibility is adapted to illuminate the competing forces at work in achieving sustainable gambling, and to advocate an approach which balances the economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic responsibilities of gambling operators. Examples from three Australian jurisdictions are presented to provide preliminary support for the relationships in the model

Club Gaming in New South Wales, Australia: The Transition to Industry Maturity

The New South Wales club gaming industry has existed for forty years since the introduction of slot machines in 1956 and has witnessed the impact of changing legal, competitive, social, economic, and technological factors on its competitiveness. Using Michael Porter\u27s framework of competitive forces (1980), this paper analyzes the industry\u27s life cycle in terms of entry barriers, industry rivals, customer markets, and substitute products. This analysis provides evidence that the industry has evolved from an emergent industry to one which is now approaching maturity. Industry cooperation, strategic management, and a refocusing of marketing efforts are suggested as suitable responses by club management to the intensifying competitive forces accompanying industry maturity

Principles, Processes And Practices In Responsible Provision Of Gambling: A Conceptual Discussion

This paper develops a definition and conceptual framework of responsible provision of gambling that integrates three central constructs in the corporate social performance literature. It depicts responsible provision of gambling as the congruence between the socially responsible principles, socially responsive processes and socially desirable practices that gambling operators pursue and those expected by their key stakeholders in managing the social impacts of gambling. The framework therefore provides some theoretical underpinnings to clarify the meaning of responsible provision of gambling and to facilitate its implementation in order to inform scholarly research and applied initiatives. Some potential research applications of the framework are discussed

The Responsible Gambling Code in Queensland, Australia: Implementation and Venue Assessment

In Australia, the state of Queensland introduced a voluntary Responsible Gambling Code of Practice in 2002. This investigation examines levels of implementation and perceptions of adequacy of the Code in casinos, hotels and licensed clubs in three Queensland regions. It involved on-site inspections of 30 venues and semi-structured interviews with 35 venue managers and staff. The level of implementation varied but most venues had implemented between 40 and 60 percent of the Code\u27s practices. Managers\u27 perceptions of the adequacy of the Code\u27s practices revealed that some practices, such as physical layout of the venue, were considered much more effective than others, such as the provision of information and signage

Psychological factors, sociodemographic characteristics, and coping mechanisms associated with the self-stigma of problem gambling

Background and aims Few studies have examined the stigma of problem gambling and little is known about those who internalize this prejudice as damaging self-stigma. This paper aimed to identify psychological factors, sociodemographic characteristics, and coping mechanisms associated with the self-stigma of problem gambling. Methods An online survey was conducted on 177 Australian adults with a current gambling problem to measure self-stigma, self-esteem, social anxiety, self-consciousness, psychological distress, symptom severity, most problematic gambling form, stigma coping mechanisms, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results All variables significantly correlated with self-stigma were considered for inclusion in a regression model. A multivariate linear regression indicated that higher levels of self-stigma were associated with: being female, being older, lower self-esteem, higher problem gambling severity score, and greater use of secrecy (standardized coefficients: 0.16, 0.14, −0.33, 0.23, and 0.15, respectively). Strongest predictors in the model were self-esteem, followed by symptom severity score. Together, predictors in the model accounted for 38.9% of the variance in self-stigma. Discussion and conclusions These results suggest that the self-stigma of problem gambling may be driven by similar mechanisms as the self-stigma of other mental health disorders, and impact similarly on self-esteem and coping. Thus, self-stigma reduction initiatives used for other mental health conditions may be effective for problem gambling. In contrast, however, the self-stigma of problem gambling increased with female gender and older age, which are associated with gaming machine problems. This group should, therefore, be a target population for efforts to reduce or better cope with the self-stigma of problem gambling

Responsible Consumption of Gambling: Results from a Survey of Experts

Consumers are now advised to “gamble responsibly” and to adopt a range of responsible gambling (RG) consumption strategies, such as setting time and expenditure limits, taking frequent breaks, and balancing gambling with other activities. However, it is unclear whether RG consumption strategies are aimed at non-problem and low-risk gamblers as a harm prevention strategy, higher-risk gamblers as a harm minimization strategy, or problem gamblers as a means to address their gambling problem. Indeed, conceptual developments in RG consumption are in their infancy and agreed definitions, principles, goals and behaviors are lacking. This paper presents findings from an expert survey conducted to inform a study which is developing and validating behavioral indicators of RG. The presentation will summarise expert views in relation to defining RG consumption, its underlying principles, and the applicability of numerous RG behaviors to different gambler risk groups. Experts’ attitudes to RG consumption and its promotion are also discussed, along with the implications of the findings for policy and practice. Financial support for this study was provided by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation