Interactive gambling

Summary: One of the most significant changes to the gambling environment in the past 15 years has been the increased availability of interactive or Internet gambling. Interactive gambling, including mobile gambling, is the fastest growing mode of gambling. This paper describes how and why Australians choose to gamble interactively.It will consider how interactive gambling differs from traditional land-based options and the differences between gamblers who do and do not gamble interactively. The discussion paper focuses on concerns regarding interactive gambling, including the risks it poses, particularly in terms of problem gambling. Key messages Interactive gambling is increasing in popularity with intensive marketing being used to encourage greater use of this mode of gambling. Sports and race wagering are the dominant forms of interactive gambling in Australia and interactive gamblers are more likely to be younger males. Most online gambling occurs on home computers, but the popularity of mobile technologies is increasing, allowing Australians to gamble at any time, from any place. Interactive gamblers tend to be more intensely involved in gambling than their land-based counterparts and more likely to experience gambling issues. Harm reduction may be achieved through initiatives such as regulated gambling sites, community education about the risks of interactive gambling, specialised treatment and prevention programs, and improved understanding of the impact of new technologies on gambling behaviour

Roles and responsibilities of the student nurse mentor: an update.

Facilitating the learning of student nurses in the workplace is an integral role of the registered nurse. This article aims to provide an overview of the role and responsibilities of the mentor in supporting pre-registration nursing students in clinical practice. The professional obligations for the mentor to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards (NMC, 2008a) will be explored, including the ongoing requirements to keep up to date in mentoring practices. Some of the challenges within the role will be identified, including the importance of recognizing and supporting the failing student. Recent changes to the preparation requirements for sign-off mentors will be discussed. The article concludes by presenting the potential benefits to both the individual and the practice placement provider

Cultural Competence in the Treatment of Addictions: Theory, Practice and Evidence

Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations often have high rates of addictive disorders, but lower rates of treatment seeking and completion than the mainstream population. A significant barrier to treatment is the lack of culturally relevant and appropriate treatment. A literature review was conducted to identify relevant literature related to cultural competence in mental health services delivery and specifically treatment for addictive disorders. Several theoretical models of cultural competence in therapy have been developed, but the lack of rigorous research limits the empirical evidence available. Research indicates that culturally competent treatment practices including providing therapy and materials in the client's language, knowledge, understanding and appreciation for cultural perspectives and nuances, involving the wider family and community and training therapists can enhance client engagement, retention and treatment outcomes for substance use and gambling. Further methodologically rigorous research is needed to isolate the impact of cultural competence for the treatment of addictions and guide research to determine treatment efficacy within specific CALD populations. Training therapists and recruiting therapists and researchers from CALD communities is important to ensure an ongoing focus and improved outcomes for CALD populations due to the importance of engaging these populations with addiction treatment.Funding for this study was provided by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation: ‘Review of the In-Language Gambler’s Help Services’. The VRGF had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript or the decision to submit the paper for publication

The influence of the online environment on risk taking: Internet gambling and Gambling Disorder

Disordered gambling is a significant public health issue and individuals who gamble online are significantly more likely to experience gambling problems than land-based-only gamblers. This presentation will consider what unique features of Internet gambling pose risks for harm, which population of Internet gamblers are at risk for experiencing gambling problems and whether Internet gambling leads to more gambling problems than venue-based gamblin

A bystander programme to prevent domestic violence and abuse in UK general communities: evaluation of Active Bystander Communities

This is the author accepted manuscript. the final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordBristol City CouncilDevon County CouncilPublic Health England South WestUniversity of Exete

Session 4-1-C: Social media gambling games: Impact on young people

Key concerns for youth Normalisation & positive impressions of gambling Misrepresenting the odds of winning Encouraging transition to real money gambling Development of problem

Website design features: Exploring how social cues present in the online environment may impact risk taking

The nature of the online environment makes it difficult for individuals to verify their safety and to identify latent risks in online activities. This limits website users' ability to take appropriate security precautions. Websites use various features and functions supported by computer‐based media technologies to communicate and interact with users to achieve business success. Most website features research has previously focused solely on e‐commerce websites, leaving a knowledge gap in terms of website feature design and its impact in a broader context. An investigation applying a descriptive auditing method was undertaken on 50 Australian‐based websites from 10 categories to identify social cues presented to users. A website feature strategic emphasis framework was applied. Results generated a list of 48 unique features with social cues and highlighted their usage, which may influence decision‐making across website categories. Without comprehensive user protection for these design features, website visitors may not be aware of potential consequences. This research enriches understanding of potential features with social cues that may influence decision‐making and provides a foundation for online environment feature design regulation. Through identifying potential social and environmental cues in website features, this study will guide future studies in assessing websites' impact on online risk‐taking behavior and further contribute to online risk‐taking prevention.This work was supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award (DE1060100459) awarded to S.G

From campus to communities: evaluation of the first UK-based bystander programme for the prevention of domestic violence and abuse in general communities

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author under reasonable request.BACKGROUND: Violence against women and girls is a public health epidemic. Campus-based research has found bystander programmes show promise as effective primary prevention of sexual violence. However, evidence regarding domestic violence and abuse bystander prevention specifically, and in community settings generally, is still in development. Further, research has predominantly emanated from the US. Examining proof of concept in differing cultural contexts is required. This study evaluates the feasibility and potential for effectiveness of a domestic violence and abuse bystander intervention within UK general communities-Active Bystander Communities. METHODS: Participants recruited opportunistically attended a three-session programme facilitated by experts in the field. Programme feasibility was measured using participant attendance and feedback across nine learning objectives. Myth acceptance, bystander efficacy, behavioural intent and bystander behaviours were assessed using validated scales at baseline, post-intervention, and four-month follow-up. Results were examined for potential backlash. Analyses used a paired sample t-test and effect size was quantified with Cohen's d. RESULTS: 58/70 participants attended all programme sessions. Participant feedback consistently rated the programme highly and significant change (p ≤ 0·001) was observed in the desired direction across behavioural intent, bystander efficacy, and myth acceptance scores at post and follow-up. Effect size was generally large and, with the exception of Perception of Peer Myth Acceptance, improved at follow-up. Backlash was minimal. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first UK-based study to examine the potential of bystander intervention as a community-level intervention for domestic violence and abuse. Findings are promising and indicate the translatability of the bystander approach to domestic violence and abuse prevention as well as community contexts. This is likely to be of great interest to policymakers and may help shape future community-based interventions. Further research is now needed using experimental designs engaging diverse community audiences.Bristol City Counci

Gambling-related consumer credit use and debt problems: a brief review

People experiencing problems with gambling may use consumer credit to cover expenses and/or continue gambling. This may contribute to debt problems and psychological distress, both of which may have pre-existed (and potentially motivated) their gambling. This review found little empirical investigation of patterns of consumer credit use by gamblers, despite borrowing money being a diagnostic criterion for gambling disorder and financial harms being one of the most commonly reported problems. Research suggests that consumer credit use and debt problems increase with problem gambling severity. Gambling-related debt problems increase the likelihood of experiencing poor psychosocial functioning, including psychological distress, substance use, adverse family impacts, crime, and suicidality. Communities and governments are calling for more socially responsible conduct by financial institutions, which increasingly recognise the potentially harmful impacts of credit provision on the well-being of customers experiencing gambling problems. Policies and interventions are needed relating to consumer credit, debt, and gambling to enhance customers’ financial and psychosocial well-being.This work was partially funded by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and University of Sydney Industry Seed Funding and an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award [DE1060100459] awarded to Associate Professor Sally Gainsbury. The funding bodies had no involvement in the research, including but not limited to: the conceptualisation of the manuscript; collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data; the writing of the manuscript; or the decision to submit the article for publication

Chasing losses in online poker and casino games: Characteristics and game play of Internet gamblers at risk of disordered gambling

Disordered Internet gambling is a psychological disorder that represents an important public health issue due to the increase in highly available and conveniently accessible Internet gambling sites. Chasing losses is one of the few observable markers of at-risk and problem gambling that may be used to detect early signs of disordered Internet gambling. This study examined loss chasing behaviour in a sample of Internet casino and poker players and the socio-demographic variables, irrational beliefs, and gambling behaviours associated with chasing losses. An online survey was completed by 10,838 Internet gamblers (58% male) from 96 countries. The results showed that Internet casino players had a greater tendency to report chasing losses than poker players and gamblers who reported chasing losses were more likely to hold irrational beliefs about gambling and spend more time and money gambling than those who reported that they were unaffected by previous losses. Gamblers who played for excitement and to win money were more likely to report chasing losses. This study is one of the largest ever studies of Internet gamblers and the results are highly significant as they provide insight into the characteristics and behaviours of gamblers using this mode of access