A public health perspective on addressing gambling harm from bingo

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Author(s): Maltzahn, Kathleen ; Whiteside, Mary ; Lee, Helen ; Cox, John ; MacLean, Sarah J.

Journal: Public Health

Year Published: 2022

Date Added: September 07, 2022

Bingo is being changed by recent regulatory, commercial, and technological factors. These changes make people who play bingo at greater risk for gambling-related harm. ¬This study identified different measures that can help address gambling harm to people who play bingo. The researchers conducted a case study of three populations in Victoria, Australia. They interviewed 53 bingo players and 13 stakeholders. Five drivers of and influences on harm were identified: (1) changes that reduce bingo’s protective factors; (2) bingo being used to promote other forms of gambling; (3) government reluctance to increase regulation of bingo; (4) not recognizing different experiences of communities; and (4) external influences of harm, including racialized poverty. The study outlined five measures to reduce gambling harm from bingo: (1) safeguard bingo’s protective features; (2) delink bingo from other forms of gambling; (3) address political protection of the gambling industry; (4) tailor strategies for different populations; and (5) address external influencers of harm.

Citation: Maltzahn, K., Whiteside, M., Lee, H., Cox, J., & MacLean, S. (2022). Tackling gambling harm to bingo players at a time of commercial, regulatory and technological change – towards a public health approach. Public Health, 206, 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2022.01.038

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2022.01.038

Keywords: bingo ; gambling ; gambling harm ; gambling policy ; Indigenous peoples ; older adults ; Pacific ; play management tools ; public health ; regulation ; socioeconomic status ; technology ; vulnerable groups

Topics: Aboriginal and First Nations ; Cultural Factors ; Information for Policy Makers ; Older Adults ; Priority Populations ; Public Health ; Socioeconomic Status

Conceptual Framework Factors: Gambling Types ; Cultural - Gambling Cultures ; Cultural - Indigenous Groups ; Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Resources - Harm Reduction, Prevention, and Protection ; Social - Social Demographics ; Psychological - Lifespan Development

Study Design: Other Qualitative

Geographic Coverage: Australia, Victoria

Study Population: Interviews with bingo players from three communities including Indigenous people in the state’s east, Pacific people in the northwest, and older people on low or fixed incomes in Melbourne (n = 53); and stakeholders including community workers, gambling harm treatment staff, government representatives, regulatory experts, and bingo operators (n = 13). There were also 12 participant observation sessions of bingo games.

Sampling Procedure: The researchers recruited participants through three partner organisations and using snowball sampling. They asked participants to refer others to be interviewed. The researchers asked participants about their experiences of and observations about bingo playing. Participants were asked what they believed, if any, should be changed about bingo. The researchers recruited some participants as well as the observation sites using criterion sampling. For example, having an observation site in a regional area and interview participants were bingo players at the site, or including stakeholders with expertise in bingo.

Study Funding:

This study was supported by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.