Older adults' perceptions of the risks associated with contemporary gambling environments: Implications for public health policy and practice
IntroductionRapid changes in the Australian gambling environment have amplified the risks for gamblers and pose significant threats to public health. Technological advances, saturation of marketing, and the embedding of gambling in sport have all contributed to significant changes in the gambling ri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sociology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1061872/full |
| _version_ | 1797869641093087232 |
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| author | Hannah Pitt Simone McCarthy Samantha L. Thomas Melanie Randle Sarah Marko Sean Cowlishaw Sylvia Kairouz Mike Daube |
| author_facet | Hannah Pitt Simone McCarthy Samantha L. Thomas Melanie Randle Sarah Marko Sean Cowlishaw Sylvia Kairouz Mike Daube |
| author_sort | Hannah Pitt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionRapid changes in the Australian gambling environment have amplified the risks for gamblers and pose significant threats to public health. Technological advances, saturation of marketing, and the embedding of gambling in sport have all contributed to significant changes in the gambling risk environment. Older adults have witnessed the changes to the way gambling is provided and promoted in public spaces, but little is known about how these changes have shaped the way they conceptualize the risks associated with gambling.MethodGuided by critical qualitative inquiry, semi structured interviews were conducted with 40 Australian adults aged 55 years and older, who had gambled at least once in the last 12 months. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.ResultsParticipants discussed gambling environments in Australia and how they had changed through the proliferation of gambling products, environments, and opportunities; the risks posed through the embedding of gambling in community and media environments; the role of technology in gambling environments; and the role of marketing and promotions in the changing gambling environments. Participants recognized that these factors had contributed to gambling environments becoming increasingly risky over time. However, despite the perception of increased risk, many participants had engaged with new gambling technologies, products, and environments.DiscussionThis research supports the adoption of public health responses that include consideration of the environmental, commercial, and political factors that may contribute to risky gambling environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:14:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aa5fe59314094f0a946b8fd17111b7ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-7775 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T00:14:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sociology |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa5fe59314094f0a946b8fd17111b7ca2023-03-16T05:53:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752023-03-01810.3389/fsoc.2023.10618721061872Older adults' perceptions of the risks associated with contemporary gambling environments: Implications for public health policy and practiceHannah Pitt0Simone McCarthy1Samantha L. Thomas2Melanie Randle3Sarah Marko4Sean Cowlishaw5Sylvia Kairouz6Mike Daube7Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, AustraliaInstitute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, AustraliaInstitute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, AustraliaFaculty of Business and Law, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, AustraliaInstitute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, AustraliaDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, CanadaFaculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, AustraliaIntroductionRapid changes in the Australian gambling environment have amplified the risks for gamblers and pose significant threats to public health. Technological advances, saturation of marketing, and the embedding of gambling in sport have all contributed to significant changes in the gambling risk environment. Older adults have witnessed the changes to the way gambling is provided and promoted in public spaces, but little is known about how these changes have shaped the way they conceptualize the risks associated with gambling.MethodGuided by critical qualitative inquiry, semi structured interviews were conducted with 40 Australian adults aged 55 years and older, who had gambled at least once in the last 12 months. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.ResultsParticipants discussed gambling environments in Australia and how they had changed through the proliferation of gambling products, environments, and opportunities; the risks posed through the embedding of gambling in community and media environments; the role of technology in gambling environments; and the role of marketing and promotions in the changing gambling environments. Participants recognized that these factors had contributed to gambling environments becoming increasingly risky over time. However, despite the perception of increased risk, many participants had engaged with new gambling technologies, products, and environments.DiscussionThis research supports the adoption of public health responses that include consideration of the environmental, commercial, and political factors that may contribute to risky gambling environments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1061872/fullgamblingpublic healtholder adultsrisk environmentsqualitative |
| spellingShingle | Hannah Pitt Simone McCarthy Samantha L. Thomas Melanie Randle Sarah Marko Sean Cowlishaw Sylvia Kairouz Mike Daube Older adults' perceptions of the risks associated with contemporary gambling environments: Implications for public health policy and practice Frontiers in Sociology gambling public health older adults risk environments qualitative |
| title | Older adults' perceptions of the risks associated with contemporary gambling environments: Implications for public health policy and practice |
| title_full | Older adults' perceptions of the risks associated with contemporary gambling environments: Implications for public health policy and practice |
| title_fullStr | Older adults' perceptions of the risks associated with contemporary gambling environments: Implications for public health policy and practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Older adults' perceptions of the risks associated with contemporary gambling environments: Implications for public health policy and practice |
| title_short | Older adults' perceptions of the risks associated with contemporary gambling environments: Implications for public health policy and practice |
| title_sort | older adults perceptions of the risks associated with contemporary gambling environments implications for public health policy and practice |
| topic | gambling public health older adults risk environments qualitative |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1061872/full |
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