This report presents key findings of a 2003-2004 study into adolescent gambling in
the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The study is based on a survey of years 7 to
12 students from Government, Catholic, and Independent schools. The aim of this
research project was to increase existing knowledge concerning the nature and extent
of gambling amongst a population subgroup that was generally omitted by the
Federal Productivity Commission in their 1999 report. Although previous studies of
young people have been conducted in Victoria and South Australia that reveal
higher prevalence of problem gambling than adults, no such work has ever been
undertaken in the ACT. Our research therefore contributes to this scant Australian
literature on adolescent gambling by providing further data concerning its
measurement, causes and prevalence. In addition, this study provides regulatory and
educational authorities in the ACT with a much-needed overview and the material
basis for the development of evidence-based prevention and counselling programs,
and education strategies. The research also assists in the development and validation
of a consistent methodology to allow future replications, as well as providing
baseline statistics against which future developments in adolescent gambling can be
compared
