The Australian Medical Association (AMA) revealed that online gambling harm affects an increasing number of local residents and once again called for the Federal Government to regulate digital gambling platforms and advertising in the country.
The AMA has called on the country’s Government to invest more efforts to regulate online gambling platforms and online gambling advertising and marketing campaigns. The Association filed a submission to the authorities regarding its “Parliamentary Inquiry into Online Gambling and Its Impacts on Those Experiencing Gambling Harm”.
AMA’s submission comes at a time when new research held by the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC) shows that a large number of local residents signed in with online gambling operators for the first time during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to reports, nearly one in three of the people who took part in the survey revealed that they created a new account with an online betting operator during the pandemic, with young men being the most likely group to sign up for new accounts, boost their monthly gambling expenditures and be at risk of gambling-related harm.
The Australian Medical Association has noted that gambling could inflict serious harm on the health and well-being of both individuals and their families in various ways, such as impacting their physical and mental health, financial state, job, relationship, etc.
Mobile Technology and Advertising Campaigns Make Online Gambling Services Particularly Attractive to Young People
Professor Steve Robson, President of the Australian Medical Association, revealed that while gambling has caused increasing concern over the past decade, the calls for the establishment of an independent gambling regulatory body that were raised by the AMA in 2013 have been left disregarded by the Federal Government.
According to him, local Governments have largely demonstrated an unwillingness to step up to the gambling industry and implement a strong regulator framework, which is now necessary more than ever, considering the fact that mobile technology and mass-appealing advertising campaigns could make online gambling look more attractive and acceptable. Although some states and territories around the country had started to examine and enact restrictions on online gambling advertising, an increasing number of Australian residents – especially younger ones – are being targeted by the advertising practices used by the multi-billion-dollar gambling industry to lure them into gambling.
Professor Robson shared that online gambling advertising meant that a larger number of children is exposed to products that could negatively affect them, as underage individuals could be exposed to information and opportunities regarding online gambling. According to the boss of the AMA, doctors also have to be trained to recognise and support people who are suffering from the negative effects of their compulsive gambling behaviour.
Apart from that, the stigma faced by problem gamblers needs to be ended because many people are so embarrassed that they are afraid to come forward and seek professional help for their addiction.
- Author
Daniel Williams
