Unambiguous evidence that over half of gambling problems in Australia are caused by electronic gambling machines: Results from a large-scale composite population study

Abstract

Background and aimsIt is well understood that engagement with some forms of gambling, like EGMs, is riskier than other forms. However, while reports of associations are common, few studies have attempted to evaluate and compare the relative risk of all available forms, and none have estimated the relative contribution of each form to the total burden of gambling problems (GP) in a population.MethodsUsing an aggregated dataset of national and state-based prevalence studies in Australia (N = 71,103), we estimated prevalence and unique effects of frequency of engagement on each form on GP. Two alternative numerical methods were then applied to infer the relative contribution of each form to the total amount of GP.ResultsEGMs are responsible for 51%–57% of gambling problems in Australia, and 90% of gambling problems are attributable to EGMs, casino, race, and sports betting. Casino table games and EGMs are equally risky at the individual level, but the former contribute far less to problems due to low participation. Bingo and lottery play show no statistically detectable risk for GP.Discussion and conclusionThe results illustrate which forms present the greatest population burden and illuminate the reasons why. EGMs have an outsized impact. EGM uniquely combines high risk conditional on play, with a high participation rate and a high frequency of play among participants. This is in contrast to risky but less commonly played casino games, and prevalent but non-risky forms like lotteries. We conclude that EGM regulation should be a primary focus of policy action in Australia. More innovative policy ideas relating to EGMs should be tested due to the disproportionate impact of this product type.

The COVID-19 lockdown experience suggests that restricting the supply of gambling can reduce gambling problems: An Australian prospective study

“…Conversely, one year after lockdown when gambling availability had largely returned to pre-pandemic conditions, increased frequency of gambling on EGMs and decreased frequency of online gambling was associated with increased PGSI scores. EGMs are known to present the highest risk of problem gambling ( Browne et al., 2023 ; Delfabbro, King, Browne, & Dowling, 2020 ; Hing, Russell, et al., 2022 ; Mazar, Zorn, Becker, & Volberg, 2020 ).…”

Order of first-play in simulated versus monetary gambling

“…The forms of simulated gambling where gambling is the main gameplay element (social casino games and demo games) tended to first occur after engagement in many gambling forms, including some of the more harmful forms like EGMs and sports betting (Browne et al, 2023). These results raise doubts about the extent of migration for these products.…”

Electronic gaming machine accessibility and gambling problems: A natural policy experiment

“…The SGHS has been criticised by Delfabbro and colleagues ( Delfabbro, Georgiou, & King, 2021 ; Delfabbro & King, 2017 ), but these criticisms have been rebutted by the original authors ( Latvala, Browne, Rockloff, & Salonen, 2021 ; Murray Boyle, Browne, Rockloff, & Flenady, 2021 , 2022 ). The SGHS has also been shown to have strong psychometric performance ( M. Browne, Delfabbro, et al., 2023 ), including by independent researchers ( Dowling et al., 2021 ; Greenwood, Youssef, Merkouris, & Dowling, 2021 ).…”