Why it matters
The Full Picture
Sports betting is marketed as harmless social fun and no-one ever expects or intends to experience gambling harm.
However, 7 out of 10 young men who bet on sport are at risk of, or already experiencing gambling harm. That means if you know 10 young people who bet, 7 of them could be struggling.
The odds of harm
If you gamble regularly, you’re more likely to be harmed than to win big.
If you don’t gamble at all?
You’re safe – No gambling means no gambling harm.
If you only gamble occasionally?
50 to 1 – The odds of gambling harm are about 50 to 1.
If you gamble once a week or more on things other than lotteries?
7 to 1 – The odds of gambling harm drop to just 7 to 1.
The More Ways You Bet, The Greater Your Risk
People who engage in multiple types of betting experience more harm.
Pokies
7 out of 10 young people who use pokies regularly are harmed by gambling
Casino Games
Sports Betting
Sports betting online has more than doubled over the past five years, especially in the younger cohorts
Recognising when betting becomes more harmful than fun
The Full Impact …
When people think of gambling harm, they usually think about losing money. In reality, gambling can impact your:
Finances
- Almost half of regular online bettors have experienced reduced savings and spending money
- 4 out of 10 regular online bettors have less money for fun activities like eating out, movies, or entertainment
- 1 in 5 regular online bettors have increased credit card debt and sold personal items
- 18-19 year olds alone spend $213 million a year on gambling
Health & Wellbeing
- About a third of regular online bettors have felt like a failure, ashamed, or distressed due to betting
- Many people can experience increased stress, anxiety and sleep problems
- Depression and difficulty concentrating on work or study
Relationships
- About a third of regular online bettors spend less time with people they care about due to betting
- Betting can cause arguments with family and friends about money
- Some people end up hiding betting behaviour from loved ones
- Betting can cause loss of trust in relationships
Future
- Poor credit ratings affecting future loans for cars, homes
- Delayed life goals - travel, home ownership, starting a family
- Career impacts due to financial stress and concentration problems
The Ripple Effect
For every person who experiences gambling harm, six of their close family and friends are also negatively affected.
Practical tools
A Quick
Self-Check
Take a quiz to find out how concerned you should be about your gambling
Self-Exclusion & Blocking Tools
Practical ways to set limits on your gambling