An interview study on how changes in online gambling influence gambling behaviours and experiences

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Author(s): Hing, Nerilee ; Smith, Michele ; Rockloff, Matthew J. ; Thorne, Hannah B. ; Russell, Alex M. T. ; Dowling, Nicki A. ; Breen, Helen

Journal: BMC Public Health

Year Published: 2022

Date Added: November 25, 2022

This article described an interview study of people who gambled online to explore how changes in online gambling in the past decade had influenced their gambling experiences. Participants noted the increased speed and ease of online gambling. They described the extensive gambling advertising and inducements. Many participants were aware of the wide range of exotic bets being offered now, particularly multi-bets. Participants who had sought treatment before were more negatively affected by these changes in online gambling. Only a few participants had used harm minimisation tools and noted their limited effectiveness.

Citation: Hing, N., Smith, M., Rockloff, M., Thorne, H., Russell, A. M. T., Dowling, N. A., & Breen, H. (2022). How structural changes in online gambling are shaping the contemporary experiences and behaviours of online gamblers: An interview study. BMC Public Health, 22, 1620. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14019-6

Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14019-6

Keywords: betting inducements ; gambling accessibility ; gambling disorder ; gambling harm ; online gambling ; problem gambling

Topics: Gambling Exposure ; Online Gambling

Conceptual Framework Factors: Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Types - Structural Characteristics ; Exposure - Marketing and Messaging ; Environment - Responsible Gambling ; Exposure - Accessibility ; Gambling Environment ; Gambling Exposure

Response Rate: 19.6% for non-treatment seeking participants, and 2.2% for treatment-seeking participants

Study Design: Qualitative: Content Analysis

Geographic Coverage: Australia

Study Population: Adults who had gambled online for at least a decade and had no history of treatment-seeking (n = 19), and those who had sought professional help for problems with online gambling in the last three years (n = 10)

Sampling Procedure: The researchers recruited participants from a database of participants in their previous gambling studies. Email invitations were sent out in batches of 20 (and then 50) to potential participants.

Study Funding:

Funding was provided by Gambling Research Australia. CQUniversity also provided a stipend to Michele Smith for a Summer Scholarship to support her work on this manuscript.