Southern Cross UniversityePublications@SCU

School of Tourism and Hospitality Management

2013

The impact of partial liberalization of internetgambling: a comparison of internet and non-internet gamblersSally M. GainsburySouthern Cross University

Nerilee HingSouthern Cross University

Alex RussellSouthern Cross University

Alex BlaszczynskiUniversity of Sydney

Robert WoodUniversity of Lethbridge

See next page for additional authors

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Publication detailsGainsbure, SM, Hing, N, Russell, A, Blaszczynski, A, Wood, R & Lubman, D 2013, 'The impact of partial liberalization of internetgambling: a comparison of internet and non-internet gamblers', paper presented to the 15th International Conference on Gambling &Risk Taking, Las Vegas, Nevada, 27-31 May.

AuthorsSally M. Gainsbury, Nerilee Hing, Alex Russell, Alex Blaszczynski, Robert Wood, and Dan Lubman

This presentation is available at ePublications@SCU: http://epubs.scu.edu.au/tourism_pubs/1961

Interactive Gambling in Australia

Sally Gainsbury

15th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking

May 30, 2013

What forms of Internet gambling are legal in Australia?

What forms of Internet gambling are illegal?

Interactive gambling in Australia

~ 30-35 Australian sites

~ 2,242 sites accept play from Australia

~ 194 payment methods accepted

~ AUD$1 billion spent on offshore sites

Zero operators or sites prosecuted

Online gambling participation increasing

Prohibition is not effective

Why do we need to understand interactive gambling?

• Concerns & possible impacts:

– Land-based industry

– Increase gambling

– Vulnerable populations

– Increased gambling problems

• A new type of gambling?

Advantages of Internet gambling

1. Don’t have to leave the house

2. Availability/convenience

3. No crowds

4. No unpleasant people

5. Greater privacy & anonymity

6. More physically comfortable

7. Higher payout rates

Source: Gainsbury, Wood, Russell, Hing, & Blaszczynski, 2012

Disadvantages of Internet gambling

1. Too convenient

2. Easier to spend money

3. More addictive

4. Poorer social atmosphere

5. Concerns about money/deposits

Source: Gainsbury, Wood, Russell, Hing, & Blaszczynski, 2012

Research: Interactive Gambling Study

• Commissioned by Gambling Research Australia to determine interactive gambling:

– Prevalence

– Motivations, characteristics and behaviours

– Game play & medium preferences

• Research team: Nerilee Hing, Sally Gainsbury, Alex Blaszczynski, Robert Wood, Alex Russell, Dan Lubman

• These findings are preliminary and not final

Interactive Gambling Study

• Nationally representative telephone survey – 15,006 Australian adults (18+)

• November-December, 2011

• Interactive gambler: anyone who has gambled using interactive methods in past 12 months – May also use land-based forms

• Land-based gambler: anyone who has gambled in past 12 months only on non-interactive forms

Prevalence of gambling in 2011

• Past-year prevalence of adult gambling: 64.26%

– 1998/99 prevalence 82%

• Past-year prevalence of interactive gambling: 8.06%

– 1998/99 prevalence 0.6%

Source: Interactive Gambling Study, Productivity Commission 1999 Note: Findings are preliminary and not final

National participation in gambling activities

Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final

43

31

22 19

13

9 9 6

3 2

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Lottery Scratchtickets

Racebetting

EGMs Sportsbetting

Keno Casinogames

Poker Bingo Bettingon skill

games

%

43

31

22 19

13 9 9

6 3 2

60

46

24

39

6

16

10

5

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Lottery Scratchtickets

Racebetting

EGMs Sportsbetting

Keno Casinogames

Poker Bingo Bettingon skillgames

%

2011 1999

Participation in gambling activities 1999 vs. 2011

Source: Interactive Gambling Study; Productivity Commission, 1999 Note: Findings are preliminary and not final

Annual gambling participation

Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final

52

68

54

64

7

19 20

29

4

43

49

67

16

31

4

13

8 11

2

28

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Lottery Scratch

tickets

Race

betting

EGMs Sports

betting

Keno Casino

games

Poker Bingo Betting

on skillgames

%

Interactive Gamblers Land-based Gamblers

Average proportion of each gambling activity done online

Note: For those who gambled on each form online Low N, interpret figures with caution Source: Interactive Gambling Study, Note: Findings are preliminary and not final

58

25

72

30

76

33

79

71

64

85

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Lottery Scratchtickets

Racebetting

EGMs Sportsbetting

Keno Casinogames

Poker Bingo Bettingon skill

games

%

Characteristics of Interactive Gamblers

• Compared to land-based gamblers, interactive gamblers are more likely to be:

– Male

– Younger

– Single or living with partner

– University educated

– Employed full-time or student

– Have broadband Internet access at home & work

Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final

Interactive gamblers

• Majority gambled online since 2009

• Computers preferred mode of interactive gambling

87

9 3

0

20

40

60

80

100

Computer Mobile Portable device

%

Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final

Interactive gamblers

• 52% prefer interactive gambling

• 48% prefer land-based gambling

• Some unique problems:

– 17% increase spending due to credit cards/electronic money

– 10% sleep disruption

– 4% disrupted eating

Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final

Prevalence of adult problem gambling

Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final

36

52

8

4

1

Non-gambler

No problem

Low risk

Moderate risk

Problem gambler

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

%

Problem gambling among land-based and interactive gamblers

Source: Interactive Gambling Study Note: Findings are preliminary and not final

59

25

14

3

81

12

6

1

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

No problem

Low risk

Moderate risk

Problem gambler

%

Land-based gamblers Interactive gamblers

Conclusions • Participation in gambling is shifting in terms of what

and how people gamble

• Internet gamblers are more involved in this activity

– But not a homogeneous group

• Unique problems related to Internet gambling

• Continuing research is needed

• Policies to specifically address harms

Acknowledgments

Funding: Gambling Research Australia

Collaborators: Nerilee Hing, Alex Russell, Alex Blaszczynski, Dan Lubman, Robert Wood

The views expressed in this presentation are solely those of the author/s. The information, views and references material in this presentation are provided solely on the basis that the audience will be responsible for making their own assessment of the information provided

Thank you

Dr Sally Gainsbury Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Gambling Education & Research,

Southern Cross University

Email: sally.gainsbury@scu.edu.au

Website: http://works.bepress.com/sally_gainsbury/

@DrSalGainsbury