Concerns about gambling addiction are coming from a wide range of sources. From scholars to concerned parents, many individuals are making their worries known when it comes to the potential growth of gambling addiction rates in Australia.
Now, the Church is getting involved, as the Diocese of Sydney has proposed a state inquiry into gambling in New South Wales. Archbishop Glenn Davies recently wrote a letter to the Select Committee on the Impact of Gambling about the issue. He expressed concerns that more young people are being exposed to gambling now than ever before due to its vast presence in the media.
His major worry is that gambling is becoming normalised among young people across the state. Archbishop Davies is majorly in favour of mandatory pre-commitment. He argues that voluntary pre-commitment is unlikely to reduce problem gambling rates, as players can simply choose to ignore the option of limiting their spending.
When pre-commitment is mandatory, players are forced to become aware of their spending and gambling habits. “Mandatory, self-chosen pre-commitment will strike a balance between preserving personal autonomy, providing safeguards for members of society who are particularly vulnerable and allowing casual gamblers to have certainty about their gaming limits,” he said in his letter.
Another concern is the prevalence of gambling in Australian advertising. While steps have been taken to reduce the amount of betting advertising during sports matches, young people are still exposed to gambling ads in many other ways. “The unwelcome intrusion of online gambling advertising during sporting events, televised at times when children will be watching requires special attention”.
According to SydneyAnglicans.net the inquiry will report later this year. There is no telling whether the Archbishop’s concerns will be directly addressed, but the select committee continues to work on ways to determine how various forms of gambling and gambling ads are affecting local residents.
About the Author
