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Objective: This paper details how we, as 'cultural outsiders', conducted a large gambling survey in an Indigenous Australian community that adhered to Indigenous ethical protocols and values while differing from some standard survey practices., Approach: The paper summarises the ethical guidelines for conducting Indigenous public health research. It describes research processes used in the study in eight generic steps identified in Keeping Research on Track: A Guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples About Health Research Ethics.(1) It explains how adherence to these guidelines contributed to successful project completion., Conclusion: The research processes used to conduct this project gave explicit recognition and commitment to respecting Indigenous cultural values and principles. It engaged the Indigenous community in ways that promoted its ownership of the research issue, ensured the validity and reliability of the research data and unearthed potential solutions to problems identified., Implications: By sharing our experiences in attempting to conduct research that respected these values and principles, we have contributed to culturally appropriate and ethical research with participating Indigenous peoples and communities., (© 2010 The Authors. ANZJPH © 2010 Public Health Association of Australia.)

The prevention of gambling-related problems amongst Aboriginal communities has been neglected by most public health strategies which concentrate on mainstream populations. Research indicates that rates of problem gambling are higher for Aboriginal groups than the general population. Specific cultural, familial, and social patterns influence gambling by Aboriginal groups, which are individually different, making it difficult to implement a cohesive strategy to address gambling-related harms. Because of this complexity, a thorough literature review is necessary to identify gaps in policy and research. This paper uses a public health framework to consider multi-dimensional influences (personal, environmental, economic, cultural and social) that affect gambling uptake. Such analysis is also important for identifying risk factors which facilitate the development and maintenance of problem gambling and potentially for underpinning protection, prevention and treatment programs. It is advised that strategies be developed in consultation with Aboriginal peoples to guide public health policy and research to minimise any gambling-related harms.

The purpose of this paper was to examine risk and protective factors associated with the consequences of card gambling and commercial gambling for Indigenous Australians in north Queensland. With Indigenous Elders' approval and using qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 Indigenous and 48 non-Indigenous Australians in three north Queensland sites. Risk factors associated with both card and commercial gambling consequences were found to be poverty and a reluctance to seek gambling help, while for card gambling only, generational influences was a risk factor. In contrast, protective factors for both card and commercial gambling consequences were reported as positive role models, family relatedness and cultural resilience. Culturally distinctive risk and protective factors, once identified, can be the target of public health strategies to promote responsible gambling awareness among Indigenous gamblers.

Abstract: Card gambling has been engaged in by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in northern parts of Australia for centuries but limited information is available explaining the games and [...]

Background and aims: Gambling-related harm to concerned significant others (CSOs) is an important public health issue since it reduces CSOs’ health and wellbeing in numerous life domains. This study aimed to 1) estimate the first national prevalence of CSOs harmed by gambling in Australia; 2) identify the characteristics of CSOs most at risk of harm from another person’s gambling; 3) compare the types and number of harms experienced by CSOs based on their relationship to the person who gambles; and 4) compare the number of harms experienced by CSOs by self-identified gender. Methods: Based on a national CATI survey weighted to population norms, 11,560 respondents reported whether they had been personally and negatively affected by another person’s gambling in the past 12 months; and if so, answered detailed questions about the harms experienced from the person’s gambling who had harmed them the most. Results: Past-year prevalence of gambling-related harm to adult Australian CSOs was (6.0%; 95% CI 5.6%–6.5%). CSOs most commonly reported emotional harms, followed by relationship, financial, health and vocational harms, respectively. Former partners reported the most harm, followed by current partners, other family members and non-family members, respectively. Female CSOs were more likely to report more harm and being harmed by a partner or other family member, and male CSOs from a non-family member. Discussion and conclusions: The findings provide new insights into the wider societal burden of gambling and inform measures aimed at reducing harm to CSOs from gambling and supporting them to seek help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a long history of gambling amongst many Indigenous peoples, knowledge about contemporary Indigenous gambling is sparse. In Australia, previous studies of Indigenous gambling have been severely limited in number, scope and rigour. The research reported in this paper is based on the first Indigenous-specific quantitative gambling research undertaken in Australia since 1996 and draws on the largest sample to date. This study examined numerous aspects of gambling among Indigenous Australians. After appropriate consultations and permission, the study collected surveys from 1,259 self-selected Indigenous adults in 2011 at three Indigenous festivals, online and in several Indigenous communities. This paper draws on these data to identify problem gambling risk factors by comparing selected socio-demographic characteristics, early exposure to gambling, gambling motivations, gambling behaviour, gambling cognitions, and substance use while gambling, amongst non-problem, low risk, moderate risk and problem gamblers. A logistic regression investigated the difference between problem gamblers and all other PGSI groups. Risk factors associated with being a problem gambler were: being older, commencing gambling when under 10 years old, always being exposed to adults gambling as a child, using alcohol and/or drugs while gambling, having family and friends who gamble, having an addiction to gambling and not gambling to socialise, having a high expenditure on commercial gambling, and living in a state or territory other than NSW or QLD. Public health measures to address these risk factors are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines commercial gambling by Indigenous Australians in three regions of north Queensland. Semi-structured interviews conducted with 60 Indigenous Australians revealed numerous themes that influence Indigenous gambling activities. Themes were synthesized into a conceptual model for understanding Indigenous commercial gambling by developing several gambler profiles. These profiles were analysed as being positioned along a public health continuum model of gambling, from healthy to unhealthy commercial gambling. The four emerging profiles were labelled social, binge, exploited and committed gambler, respectively. The continuum model explains gambler profiles, including behaviours, motivations and outcomes as moving from healthy gambling in low-risk situations to unhealthy gambling in high-risk situations. The model contributes to a deeper understanding of influences involved in controlling or stimulating gambling by Indigenous gamblers in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared land-based-only gamblers (LBOGs), online-only gamblers (OOGs), and mixed-mode gamblers (MMGs), based on a 2019 Australian national telephone survey (N = 15,000). It examined 1) prevalence, demographics and gambling behaviours, 2) problematic gambling, 3) most harmful gambling forms, 4) gambling-related harms-to-self, and 5) risk factors for higher problem gambling severity. Results estimated that 43.1% of Australians were non-gamblers, 39.5% LBOGs, 12.8% MMGs and 4.6% OOGs. MMGs were more likely than LBOGs to be male, younger, unmarried, Australian-born, and indigenous. OOGs were more likely than MMGs to be married, university educated, born outside of Australia, speak a non-English language, and less likely to be indigenous. As hypothesised, MMGs had the highest gambling involvement, gambling problems and gambling-related harm. Relative risk of gambling problems for MMGs (5.1% problem gambling; 11.0% moderate risk gambling), exceeded that of both LBOGs (1.4%; 3.8%) and OOGs (0.7%; 4.7%). Risk factors for problematic gambling included engaging in more gambling forms, being male, single, less educated, indigenous, and speaking a non-English language. Crucially, gambling on the internet (OOGs and MMGs combined) was associated with higher problem gambling severity than land-based-only gambling (LBOGs), even after controlling for these risk factors. The findings can inform targeted public health measures. • A national study compared land-based-only gamblers (LBOGs), online-only gamblers (OOGs), and mixed-mode gamblers (MMGs). • Results estimated that 43.1% of Australians were non-gamblers, 39.5% LBOGs, 12.8% MMGs and 4.6% OOGs. • MMGs had the highest gambling involvement, gambling problems and gambling-related harm. • Internet gamblers (OOGs, MMGs) had higher problem gambling severity than LBOGs after controlling for gambling involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]