"I always walked out with an empty purse." Older adults' engagement with electronic gambling machines in Victoria, Australia. (1st July 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- "I always walked out with an empty purse." Older adults' engagement with electronic gambling machines in Victoria, Australia. (1st July 2021)
- Main Title:
- "I always walked out with an empty purse." Older adults' engagement with electronic gambling machines in Victoria, Australia
- Authors:
- Pitt, Hannah
Thomas, Samantha L.
Cowlishaw, Sean
Randle, Melanie
Balandin, Susan - Editors:
- Hallett, Jonathan
- Abstract:
- Abstract: Issue addressed: Older adults are at an increased risk of experiencing gambling harm, which may be due to their use of high‐intensity gambling products such as electronic gambling machines (EGMs). However, little research has explored the motivations behind older adults' engagement with EGMs, their understanding of the structural characteristics of EGMs, or their perceptions of risk associated with EGM gambling. This paper aims to address this gap in the literature. Methods: Focus groups were conducted in Melbourne, Australia with n = 126 adults aged 55+, who had attended a club or pub in the last 12 months. Topics included EGM attitudes and behaviours, structural characteristics of EGMs, and the potential risks associated with EGM gambling. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. Results: For most participants, EGM gambling was secondary to their participation in other activities available within venues. Participants identified structural characteristics of EGMs; however, there were some misconceptions about how EGMs operated, including how or why machines paid out. Most participants perceived that they were not at risk of gambling harm because they engaged in "responsible" gambling practices such as setting limits. Conclusions: Older adults often engaged in EGM gambling because of its availability in community‐based venues. Older adults' perception that they are implementing responsible gambling practices may be increasing their susceptibility to harm.Abstract: Issue addressed: Older adults are at an increased risk of experiencing gambling harm, which may be due to their use of high‐intensity gambling products such as electronic gambling machines (EGMs). However, little research has explored the motivations behind older adults' engagement with EGMs, their understanding of the structural characteristics of EGMs, or their perceptions of risk associated with EGM gambling. This paper aims to address this gap in the literature. Methods: Focus groups were conducted in Melbourne, Australia with n = 126 adults aged 55+, who had attended a club or pub in the last 12 months. Topics included EGM attitudes and behaviours, structural characteristics of EGMs, and the potential risks associated with EGM gambling. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. Results: For most participants, EGM gambling was secondary to their participation in other activities available within venues. Participants identified structural characteristics of EGMs; however, there were some misconceptions about how EGMs operated, including how or why machines paid out. Most participants perceived that they were not at risk of gambling harm because they engaged in "responsible" gambling practices such as setting limits. Conclusions: Older adults often engaged in EGM gambling because of its availability in community‐based venues. Older adults' perception that they are implementing responsible gambling practices may be increasing their susceptibility to harm. So what?: There is a need to reduce the availability and accessibility of EGMs in community settings and develop public education programs that are tailored to the needs of older adults. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Health promotion journal of Australia. Volume 33:Number 2(2022)
- Journal:
- Health promotion journal of Australia
- Issue:
- Volume 33:Number 2(2022)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 33, Issue 2 (2022)
- Year:
- 2022
- Volume:
- 33
- Issue:
- 2
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2022-0033-0002-0000
- Page Start:
- 533
- Page End:
- 541
- Publication Date:
- 2021-07-01
- Subjects:
- EGMs -- gambling -- older people -- qualitative research -- social determinants
Health promotion -- Periodicals
Health promotion -- Australia -- Periodicals
613.0994 - Journal URLs:
- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗
- DOI:
- 10.1002/hpja.500 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 1036-1073
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 4275.105184
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 21311.xml