‘Rite of passage’ preps young gamblers for future harms, finds Australian report

New research reveals that initiation to gambling and alcohol before the age of 18 is often seen as a rite of passage—but is linked to riskier behavior and greater gambling and alcohol harms as an adult.

The survey of more than 1,100 people aged 16-35 years who had gambled in the past year revealed that around one-third of participants (29%) had gambled before the age of 18, and three-quarters (75%) had consumed alcohol before the age of 18.

Those who started gambling underage were at higher risk of experiencing gambling harms as an adult than those who started gambling when they were of legal age. The same is true for those who started drinking while underage.

Of all survey participants, about two-thirds (68%) reported experiencing gambling harms—such as gambling more than they could afford to lose, or feeling guilty or stressed about their gambling.

In all, 70% of males and 45% of females reported “heavy episodic drinking”—defined as 6+ standard drinks on a single occasion. This type of drinking habit is considered a reliable indicator of an increased risk of both experiencing acute alcohol-related harms, as well as developing chronic health complications.

The researchers learned that 45% of all survey participants now gamble weekly.

Dr. Kei Sakata, Acting Executive Manager at the Australian Gambling Research Centre, said parents and other influential adults need to challenge the “rite of passage” mindset and consider how their attitudes and behaviors may be setting young people up for future harms.

It may feel like a safe activity to take a 16 or 17-year-old to the pub to gamble on the pokies, or encourage them to download an app to put their first bet on—but the long term negative outcomes could be significant, Dr. Sakata said.

What can start as a relatively controlled activity can easily turn into one that impacts finances, relationships and participation in work and education.

Dr. Nancy Greer, Research Fellow at the Australian Gambling Research Centre, said the research also highlights the normalization of gambling for young people in their communities, families and among friends, making engagement with gambling almost inescapable.

“About half our survey respondents said gambling was a social activity for them—with 38% reporting that having a bet made watching the activity more interesting,” Dr. Greer said.

“We also found many young people have inaccurate views of gambling harms, with more than a third of those we surveyed seeing gambling as a tool to make money or get ahead financially, even though the odds of this are very low.”

Dr. Sakata said the research highlights the importance of preventing access to underage drinking and gambling in venues.

“Given some people are getting into venues to drink and gamble while underage, it’s critical that venues are held to account. It simply shouldn’t be an option for anyone under 18,” Dr. Sakata said.

The study also found that despite 68% of participants experiencing gambling harms, 88% did not seek help because they believed they did not need help. Another 8% said they wanted to seek help but did not—with embarrassment being the most common reason.

“Stigma around harmful gambling can prevent individuals from seeking help, and the government should consider a public education campaign de-stigmatizing those who are experiencing gambling harms. At the same time, we need to be honest about the limitations of a ‘responsible gambling’ approach and the need for tougher regulation,” Dr. Sakata said.

The study included an online survey of a convenience sample of people recruited through advertisements on social media. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with a subsample of survey participants who reported the co-consumption of gambling and alcohol in the past 12 months.

Provided by
Australian Gambling Research Centre