In academia, we have seen a new focus on youth gambling research. While research on problem gambling among adults is still prevalent, we are seeing more studies based on young people. A recent study by researchers at the Australian Institute of Family Studies takes a look at the children of punters and the effect that the exposure to gambling has on their own habits.
The study involved 48 men and women in Melbourne aged 18 – 80. The researchers interviewed each one to obtain a thorough life history. The group included low, moderate and high-risk gamblers – as well as ex-problem gamblers. The researchers found that children of punters are more exposed to gambling, and this can have negative effects on their development.
When their parents were seen visiting pokie clubs and betting shops often, it normalised the activity. Later on in life, this view of gambling has the potential have caused them to develop their own compulsive gambling habits. The study also found that many young people were encouraged to gamble. Their parents would cover the cost of horse betting and handing over any winnings to them if they picked the winning horse.
This is dangerous for two reasons; it not only normalises gambling but also shields them from the experience of losses since the losses never come from the children’s pockets. Other forms of exposure and normalisation include family card games and buying lottery tickets for children’s birthdays. While they seem harmless at the time, they do have potential to cause harm later in life.
“The findings overall suggest that problem gambling may partly be an outcome of very negative early childhood experiences and early exposure to excessive gambling modelled to kids in the family environment,” reads a statement from the AIFS. These findings were presented at 13th Australian Institute of Family Studies’ conference Families In A Rapidly Changing World.
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