Games People Play - Publications · 2018. 11. 10. · 6 Games People Play Help seeking The vast...
Transcript of Games People Play - Publications · 2018. 11. 10. · 6 Games People Play Help seeking The vast...
Games People Play -Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
© The State Government of Queensland (Department of Corrective Services) November 2005
�Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Contents
Executive Summary ............................................................................................ 1. Introduction–Problemgambling,crimeandtheQueensland Department of Corrective Services ........................................................... 1.1 The Government response ................................................. 1.2 Problem gambling and Queensland Corrections .................. 1.� The Community Corrections Problem Gambling
Prevalence Survey 2004 ....................................................
2. Methodology .......................................................................................... 2.1 Introduction ...................................................................... 2.2 The Canadian Problem Gambling Index .............................. 2.� Survey instrument ............................................................. 2.4 Participants and participation rates ................................... 2.5 Statisticalsignificance....................................................... 2.6 Creation of variables .......................................................... 2.7 Region coding ................................................................... 2.8 Weighting .......................................................................... 2.9 General information on output tables ................................ 3. Queensland Community Corrections problem gambling prevalence
survey2004—results ............................................................................. �.1 Representative validity of the sample ................................ �.2 Prevalence and gambling types ......................................... �.� Socio-demographic comparisons ....................................... �.4 Gambling and behavioural issues ......................................
4. Indigenous and regional issues ............................................................... 4.1 Indigenous variants ........................................................... 4.2 Regional variants ...............................................................
References ..............................................................................................Appendix A Community Corrections/Custodial Corrections
gambling type comparisons .............................................. Appendix B Survey instrument .............................................................
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List of figures
Figure 1 Gambling prevalence across Community Corrections, prison and general Queensland population ................................................................................................
Figure 2 Did adults in the family gamble by gambling group ........................................................Figure 3 Age of first gambling experience by gambling group ......................................................Figure 4 Employment by gambling group ....................................................................................Figure 5 Income by gambling group ............................................................................................Figure 6 Education level by gambling group ................................................................................Figure 7 Perceptions of increased likelihood of gambling winnings ..............................................Figure 8 All gambling activities by gambling group ......................................................................Figure 9 Game played most often by gambling group ...................................................................Figure 10 Frequency of play by gambling group .............................................................................Figure 11 Average time spent in hours each time game played by gambling group .........................Figure 12 Expenditure per session by gambling group ...................................................................Figure 13 Help sources by gambling group ....................................................................................Figure 14 Willingness to access free gambling help program by gambling group ...........................Figure 15 Self perception of depression in Community Corrections and the general population
by gambling group ........................................................................................................Figure 16 Alcohol and drug use and influence of gambling activity by gambling group ...................Figure 17 Gambling-related offences ‘anytime’ and ‘current’ by gambling group ............................Figure 18 Gambling activity by Indigenous status ..........................................................................
List of tables
Table 1 Types of gambling-related crime ....................................................................................Table 2 CPGI gambling group .....................................................................................................Table 3 Offices surveyed according to region ..............................................................................Table 4 Representative validity of the sample ..............................................................................Table 5 CPGI gambling types: community, prison and general population comparisons ...............Table 6 Unpartnered by gambling group ....................................................................................Table 7 Gambling of partner by gambling group .........................................................................Table 8 Gambling and household arguments by gambling group ................................................Table 9 Non cash gambling stakes .............................................................................................Table 10 Self exclusion from gaming venue by gambling group ....................................................Table 11 Percentage who have not sought help with gambling in past 12 months ..........................Table 12 Indigenous, non-Indigenous gambling prevalence comparison by gambling group ........Table 13 Community Corrections gambling prevalence remote Indigenous communities ...............Table 14 Demographic profile of non-gambling group ..................................................................Table 15 Demographic profile of recreational gambler group ........................................................Table 16 Demographic profile of low risk gambler group ...............................................................Table 17 Demographic profile of moderate risk gambler group .....................................................Table 18 Demographic profile of problem risk gambler group .......................................................
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5Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Prevalence
The 2004 problem gambling survey conducted among offenders on Community Corrections orders in Queensland found that:
• 9.4percentofthesample,whichrepresents1123peoplewithintheCommunityCorrectionspopulation,experienceproblemgambling.Thisfigureisapproximately17timesthatofthegeneralpopulation.
• Afurther12.3percentofthesample,representing1475peoplewithintheCommunityCorrectionspopulation,experiencemoderateriskgamblingbehaviour.Thesepeopleexperiencesomenegativeimpactsofgamblingandmaybeatriskofbecomingproblemgamblers.
Thecombinedproblemgamblingandmoderateriskgroupscomprise21.7percentofthesampleandrepresent2598peoplecurrentlywithintheCommunityCorrectionssystemwhopotentiallyhaveseriousgamblingproblemsandwhomaybenefitfromtherapeuticintervention.
Executive summary
Community Corrections
Prison
General population
Non gambling
Recreatio
nal gamblin
g
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gamblin
g
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
�0%
20%
10%
0%
15.1
8.4
19.7
51
48.�
72.4
12.21�.5
5.�
12.� 12.4
2
9.4
0.5
17.4
Gambling activity
Nearlyallproblemgamblersplayelectronicgamingmachines(94%)andsignificantnumbersalsoplayScratch-Its(63%),Keno(56%),GoldLotto(53%)andon/offcoursebetting(40%).Problemgamblersgambletwotofivetimesaweekandarelikelytospendupwardsoffourhoursandover$60persession.
Links to criminal behaviour
Forty-one per cent of problem gamblers have committed gambling-related offences as have 17 per cent of moderateriskgamblersand11percentoflowriskgamblers.Interestingly,over8percentor150offendersinthe non-gambling group also have a gambling-related criminal history.
Figure 1 Gambling prevalence across Community Corrections, prison and general Queensland populations
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Help seeking
Thevastmajority(86%)ofproblemgamblershavenotsoughtanyhelpwiththeirgamblingproblems.Thisisconsistentwithexternalresearchshowingthatgamblersprefertodealwiththeproblemontheirown.Significantly,theGamblingHelpServicesarethemostlikelyexternalservicetobeaccessedbyproblemgamblers.CommunityCorrectionsOfficersareanothergrouplikelytobeaccessedforhelpwithgamblingproblems.
Associated issues
Nearly40percentoftheproblemgamblinggroupbegantogamblebetweentheagesof10and17.Eightyper cent of this group have experienced depression in the past year and 8� per cent have used alcohol or drugswhilegamblinginthepastyear.Thisisthehighestpercentageofanygroupforbothdepressionandsubstanceuseandindicatesthatgambling-relatedinterventionswillalsoneedtoaddressbroadercomorbidityissues.
Indigenous issues
The prevalence of problem gambling among Indigenous respondents is 1�.7 per cent compared to 8.4 per cent for non-Indigenous respondents and 0.5 per cent for the general Queensland population. Indigenous moderate riskprevalenceis17percentcomparedto11.3percentforthenon-Indigenouscohortand2percentforthegeneral population.
Theimpactof“cardschools”inremoteIndigenouscommunitiesappearstoberesultinginalowprevalenceofrecreationalgambling(25%)andaveryhighprevalenceofmoderateriskgambling(33.3%)inthosecommunities.
7Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Introduction – Problem gambling, crime and the Queensland Department of Corrective Services
While the vast majority of Queenslanders enjoy gambling as a harmless social or recreational activity there remainsasmallbutsignificantnumberofpeoplewhoexperienceseriousdifficultiesinmanagingtheirgambling behaviour1.Thesepeopleusuallybetmorethantheycanafford,loseheavily,chasetheirlosses,andoften admit a need to bet increasing amounts of money in order to maintain the same feeling of excitement. Mostimportantly,theyarelikelytohavelostcontroloftheirgamblingbehaviour2. Importantly for the DepartmentofCorrectiveServices,problemgamblingisincreasinglybeingrevealedasacontributingfactorincriminal behaviour.
1.1 The Government response
Inresponsetogrowingpublicconcernregardingthenegativeimpactsofgambling,theQueenslandGovernment released the Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy outlining its approach to minimising the harmcausedbytheadverseeffectsofgamblingwhilestillallowingaccesstowhatisalegitimaterecreationalactivity for most Queenslanders�.TheStrategyoutlinesprevention,protectionandrehabilitationinitiativestominimisetheprevalenceandimpactofproblemgamblingandtoprovidepathwaysofassistanceforthoseaffectedbythenegativeimpactsofgaming.TheStrategy’ssixpriorityactionareasaimto:
1. Enhanceresponsiblegamblingpoliciesandprogramsthroughresearch
2. Increasecommunityknowledgeandawarenessoftheimpactsofgambling
3. Reducetheriskfactorsforproblemgamblingthroughearlyintervention
4. Developastatewidesystemofproblemgamblingtreatmentandsupportservices
5. Ensuregamblingenvironmentsaresaferandmoresupportiveforconsumers
6. Promotepartnershipstoaddressstatewideandlocalgamblingissuesandconcerns
InlinewithPriorityActionArea4theQueenslandGovernmentcreatedastatewidesystemofproblemgamblingtreatmentsupportservicesbydevelopingandexpandingtheexistingGovernmentfundedGamblingHelpservices.
GamblingHelpbeganoperatingunderthebannerofBreakEvenin1993providingsupportforpeopleadverselyaffectedbygambling.By2001thereweresixserviceswithintheQueenslandBreakEvennetworklocatedin:
• Brisbane
• GoldCoast
• Toowoomba
• Rockhampton
• Townsville,and
• Cairns
In2002,asakeythrustoftheQueenslandResponsibleGamblingStrategytheQueenslandGovernmentcommittedanadditional$11millionovertheensuingthreeyears.Utilisingthisfunding,BreakEven(renamedGamblingHelp)wasexpandedfromtheoriginalsixservicestoinclude:
• CabooltureandRedcliffe
• Ipswich
• MackayandWhitsunday
• MtIsa
• SunshineCoast,and
• WideBayandBurnett
1 Queensland Household Gambling Survey 2001(QHGS),(2002)QueenslandTreasury,2 2 Ibid. 12 3 Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy,(2002)QueenslandTreasury.
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Nowwith12regionalservices,GamblingHelpisatrulystatewidenetworkdeliveredinapartnershipbetweenthe Queensland Government and a range of respected community organisations including Relationships Australia,Centacare,LifelineandInterlock(adivisionoftheAlcoholandDrugFoundationQueensland).
Theadditionofthetelephonecounsellingservice,GamblingHelpLine,createda24-hourpoint-of-entryforthoseseekinghelpwithgamblingproblems.FundingwasalsomadeavailabletotheSalvationArmy’sMoonyahRehabilitationServicefortheprovisionofacounsellortoworkwithinboththeinpatientandoutpatientprogrammesattheirRedHillserviceinBrisbane.
TheseinitiativesensuredthatcounsellingandsupportservicesareplacedwithineasyreachofthemajorityofpeopleinQueenslandwithneedofthem.
1.2 Problem gambling and Queensland Corrections
In 2002 the Queensland Department of Corrective Services conducted a problem gambling prevalence survey amongtheState’sprisonpopulation.Onehundredandseventy-eightinterviewswereconductedoutofatotal prison population of �760. The research found that the incidence of problem gambling among the prison populationwasupto20timeshigherthanforthegeneralpopulation4. Some 17.4 per cent of those tested usingtheCanadianProblemGamblingIndex(CPGI)wereidentifiedasproblemgamblers,withafurther12.4percentclassifiedasmoderaterisk,oreffectively‘atrisk’ofdevelopingproblemgamblingbehaviours5. This comparedwith0.83percentforthegeneralQueenslandpopulationaccordingtothemostrecenthouseholdgambling survey at that time6.Whetherthoseservingcustodialsentenceswereproblemgamblersuponconvictionorbecamesowhileinprisonisnotclear.Neitherisitclearhowmanyofthosedesignatedasproblemgamblerswereconvictedofgambling-relatedcrimes.Whatisknownisthat:
• 6.7percentofthosesurveyedadmittedtheircurrentoffendingrelatedtoaneedtofinancetheirgambling problem
• 7.3percentofthesampleadmittedtohavingbeenconvictedinthepastofanoffencethatwasrelatedto their gambling problem
• 12.4percentadmittedtohavingcommittedanoffence/offencesinthepastwithoutdetectioninordertofinancetheirgamblingproblem7
In spite of the fact that it is a breach of the Corrective Services Act 2000, 46.1 per cent of those surveyed admittedtogamblingwhileincustody8.
Themostprevalentcrimescommittedamongthisgroupwere:
• assault–38.2percent
• drugandalcoholrelated–28.7percent
• breakandenter–24.2percent
• robbery–21.9percent
• breachbail–20.2percent
• fraud–18percent
Reportedly,theprimarymotivationforaproblemgamblertocommitcrimeistofundtheirgamblingactivities9. Mostgambling-relatedoffencesareofthenatureoffinancialorpropertycrimesuchasfraud.However,astheCorrectiveServicesresearchnotedabove,othercrimesmayhavetheirgenesisinthegamblinghabitsoftheperpetrator.TheProductivityCommission’s1999reportnotedthat30to70percentofproblemgamblerscommitted offences.
4 Problem Gambling Prevalence Survey 2002, Department of Corrective Services 5 Ibid. 12-1� 6 QHGS,aboven1.ThecurrentresearchamongCommunityCorrectionsoffendersutilisesmoreup-to-dategeneralpopulationestimatesfrom 2005. 7 Above,n4,3.4 8 Ibid. 9 R.Doley,Want to make a Bet? Gambling and Crime in Australia,(2000)AustralianCentreforPolicingResearch,11
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TheReportwentontoadd,
Someoftheproblemgamblerssurveyedwereresponsibleforupto1000actsoflarceny,600actsofembezzlement,250actsofbreakandenterand17actsofarmedrobbery10.
Table1belowshowsthetypesofcrimecommittedby306NewSouthWalesproblemgamblersassubmittedtothe Productivity Commission11.
Table 1 Types of gambling-related crime
OffenceNumber
committing offence
Total number of offences committed
Larceny 96 5�88
Embezzlement 66 �045
Misappropriation 20 1698
Breakandenter 16 760
Shop-lifting 1� 592
Armed robbery 8 42
Drug dealing 5 �15
Other 5 19
Theabovefiguressupporttheviewthatthemostcommonoffencesinvolvetheftofmoneybyactsof:
• larcenyortheft(committedby31%ofproblemgamblerssurveyed)
• embezzlement(committedby22%)
• misappropriation(committedby7%)
Othermoreviolentcrimessuchasbreakandenter,andarmedrobberywerecommittedmuchlessfrequently(by 5% and �% of problem gamblers respectively12).
Theaboveresearchwaslimitedtothoseproblemgamblerswhohadsoughtcounsellingfortheirgamblingproblems. More recent research has focussed on people found guilty of criminal offences by examining District andLocalcourtfilesinNSWfortheperiod1995to19991�. This study also concluded that the most common gambling-relatedcrimeswerefraudcommittedbyanemployeeagainsttheiremployer(19.7%)andpassingfalsecheques(19.4%)14.Inall,76percentofthosecasesidentifiedasbeinggambling-related,involvedfraud15.Ofthosefraudsperpetratedbyanemployeethetotalamountstolenwas$2,494,309withanaverageamountof$95,935peroffender16.Thestudyadmitshoweverthatmostfraudbyemployeesgoesunreportedandthereforethefullextentofthiscrime,anditslinkwithgambling,isunknown17.PricewaterhouseCoopersestimates that 2� per cent of all serious fraud18 inAustraliaismotivatedbygambling,makingitthesecondmost common motivator for fraud behind greed19.Ofthesegambling-relatedoffences28percentwereinaprofessionalrelationshipwiththevictim(eg.solicitor,taxagent)and46percenthadanemploymentrelationship20.
10 ProductivityCommission,1999,Australia’s Gambling Industries,ReportNo.10,Ausinfo,CanberraAppendixH18 11 Ibid.H17 12 Ibid 1� P.Crofts, Gambling and Criminal Behaviour. An Analysis of Local and District Court Files,(2002);P.Crofts,Researching the Link Between Gambling and Crime (2003)Paperpresentedto‘EvaluationinCrimeandJustice:TrendsandMethods’conference,AustralianInstituteof Criminology,Canberra24-25March2003.14 P.Crofts,Researching the Link Between Gambling and Crime,ibid,0415 P.Crofts,Gambling and Criminal Behaviour,aboven1316 Ibid.17 P.Crofts,Researching the Link Between Gambling and Crime,aboven13,0818 Seriousfraudisgenerallydefinedasinvolvingamountsofover$100,000unlessotherfactorsmadethecaseunusuallyseriousor complex.19 PricewaterhouseCoopersSerious Fraud in Australia and New Zealand,(2003)AustralianInstituteofCriminology,4420 Ibid.,40
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BoththeCroftsandPricewaterhouseCoopersresearchwereconsistentinshowingtheemerginglinkbetweengamblingandcrime,andinparticulartherelationshipbetweengamblingandfraud21.
1.3 The Community Corrections Problem Gambling Prevalence Survey 2004
Followingthe2002surveyamongQueenslandcustodialoffenders,QueenslandTreasuryagreedtofundafurthersurveyamongthoseoffendersoncommunitycorrectionsorders.Communityordersincludethosewhoare on community service orders and those on post-prison community based release (parole). Offenders on theseordersliveinthegeneralcommunityandreportregularlytotheirlocalCommunityCorrectionsoffice.Therewere11,998suchoffendersintheCommunityCorrectionsystematthetimeofthesurvey.
21. Y.SakuraiandR.Smith,Gambling as a Motivation for the Commission of Financial Crime,(2003)AustralianInstituteofCriminology,4
11Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
2. Methodology
2.1 IntroductionThe2004CommunityCorrectionsGamblingPrevalenceSurveywasconductedbytheDepartmentofCorrectiveServicesutilisingfundingprovidedbytheQueenslandOfficeofGamingRegulation.DataprocessingwascarriedoutbytheOfficeofEconomicalandStatisticalResearch(OESR).
2.2 The Canadian Problem Gambling Index
Since the Queensland Household Gambling Survey 200122 the Queensland Government has utilised the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) to provide consistency across its research efforts. The CPGI isfavouredoverotherscreeninginstrumentssuchastheSouthOaksGamblingScreen(SOGS)andtheDiagnosticandStatisticalManual(DSM-IV)becauseitincludesculturalandenvironmentalfactorsaswellasthepsychologicalframeworksutilisedintheabovetools.
Thesurveyinstrument(see2.3)includedaseriesofnineCPGIquestionswhicharescoredtogrouprespondentsintooneoffivegamblingcategories(seeTable2). 2�
Table 2 CPGI gambling groups
Non-gambling: No score on the CPGI. This group has not gambled in the 12 months prior to the survey.
Recreational (non problem) gambling: CPGI score of zero.Mosthaveresponded“never”tothemajorityoftheproblemgamblingbehaviouralindicators.Itispossiblethatarespondentcouldbeafrequentplayerwhogamblesheavilybuthasnotexperiencedanyadverseconsequencesofgambling.
Low risk gambling:CPGIscoreof1–2.Theserespondentswillhaveoneormoreresponsesof“sometimes”or“moreoften”toindicatorsofproblemgamblingbehaviourproblemsbutarenotlikelytohaveexperiencedanyadverseconsequencesofgambling.Theymaybeatriskiftheyareheavilyinvolvedingamblingandrespondtoatleasttwocorrelatesofproblemgambling.
Moderate risk gambling:CPGIscoreof3–7.Theserespondentswillhaveoneormore“mostofthetime”or“always”responsestoindicatorsofbehaviourproblemsandmayormaynothaveexperiencedadverseconsequencesofgambling.Theymaybeatriskiftheyareheavilyinvolvedingamblingandrespondtoatleast three or four correlates of problem gambling.
Problem gambling:CPGIscoreof8ormore.Thisgroupwillhaveexperiencedadverseconsequencesofgambling and may have lost control of their behaviour. Their involvement in gambling activity can be at any levelbutislikelytobeheavy.
2.3 Survey instrument
A30questionsurveyquestionnaire(AppendixB)wasdevelopedtodeterminethelevelofgamblingactivityamongoffendersoncommunitycorrectionsorders.Thesurveyaskedarangeofquestionsinrelationto:
• generaldemographics Questions1–7
• incomeandeducation Questions20–22
• gamblingactivity Questions8–9
• CPGIquestions Question10
• gamblingperceptions Questions11,17
• household/environmentalfactors Questions12,18–19
• ageofonset Question13
• help-seekingbehaviour Questions14–16,30
• comorbidities(depression,substanceuse) Questions23–25
• criminogeniclinks Questions26–29
22 Above,n1 2� JackieFerrisandHaroldWynne,The Canadian Problem Gambling Index Draft User Manual (2001),CanadianCentreonSubstanceAbuse, 2.�
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ApartfromtheCPGIcomponent,questionswerechosentoenableabroadprofileofthoseineachgamblinggrouptobedeveloped.Issuessuchasfamilyenvironment,ageofonset,gamblingbehaviour,mentalhealth,substanceuseandhelp-seekingactivityallcontributetoanunderstandingofeachgamblingtypeandprovideclues to predicting susceptibility to developing problem gambling behaviours. Questions in relation to criminal behaviourwereusedtoanalyseanylinksbetweenproblemgamblingandcrime.
AdraftquestionnairewassubmittedtotheDepartmentofCorrectiveServicesAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderUnit,theWomen’sUnitandtotheDirectorofCommunityCorrectionstoensurethequestionswereappropriate,nonoffensiveandunderstandabletoallparticipants.AcopywasalsoprovidedtotheQueenslandOfficeofEconomicandStatisticalResearch(OESR)forfeedbackfromthatoffice.AdvicewasalsosoughtfromOESRastoanappropriatesamplesizetoensurethesampleadequatelyrepresentedeachstrata(see3.1).
2.4 Participants and participation rates
FourresearcherswererecruitedfromwithintheDepartmentofCorrectiveServices.Onewasappointedtoeachregion.ThesurveywasconductedthroughoutOctober/November2004witheachresearcherspendingupto5daysineachdesignatedoffice.FollowingthedepartureoftheresearcherstheofficescontinuedtoofferquestionnairestooffendersfortheremainderofthemonthofNovember.
Mostoffendersattendingtheofficesduringthesurveyperiodwereofferedaquestionnairetocomplete.Veryfewrefusedtoparticipateandthereforetheresponseratewashigh.Totalrefusalsaccordingtoregionwere:
• Metropolitan: 0
• Southern: 0
• Central:6
• Northern: 6
Total 12
Themajorityofrespondentsself-completedtheformthoughsomewereassistedbytheresearcherinaninterviewsetting.
Inall,580questionnaireswerereturned.Tenofthesewerediscardedasincompleteorotherwiseunusable,leaving570questionnairesfordataanalysis.
ThetotalCommunityCorrectionspopulation,fromwhichthissamplewasdrawnwas11,998atthetimeofthesurvey.Thisfigureexcludedthoseonfineoptions.
Indeterminingwhichofficestoincludeinthesurvey,carewastakentoensurethesurveycapturedarepresentativesampleacrossallfourCommunityCorrectionsregionsandthatthesampleadequatelyaccounted for the mixture of male/female and Indigenous/non-Indigenous representatives in the Community Corrections system.
Table3showstheofficessurveyedaccordingtoregion.Thenumberofofficessurveyedineachregionwasdeterminedonnumberofoffendersmanagedbyeachoffice.
Table 3 Community Corrections offices surveyed
Region AreaOfficessurveyed Officesnotsurveyed
Northern(RegionalOffice:Townsville) CairnsMareebaTownsvilleThuringowa
InnisfailPalm IslandMt Isa
Central(RegionalOffice:Rockhampton) MackayRockhamptonBundabergMaroochydore
GladstoneEmeraldNoosaGympieHerveyBay
Metropilitan(RegionalOffice:BrisbaneCity) CabooltureBrisbane South (Buranda)
RedcliffePine RiversWynnumClevelandInalaBrisbane North (Chermside)BrisbaneWest(Toowong)
Southern(RegionalOffice:MtGravatt) SouthportIpswich
BurleighHeadsRomaLoganBeenleighKingaroy
1�Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Aswellasvisitingtheaboveareaoffices,severaldistrictofficeswithintheareaofficejurisdictionwerevisited.Inparticular,thisincludedAurukun,PormpuraawandYarrabahIndigenouscommunities,aswellasMossmanand Atherton.
2.5 Statisticalsignificance
Unlessotherwiseindicatedallreferencestostatisticalsignificancearep<.05.
2.6 Creation of variables
Variableswerecreatedbasedonresponsestootherquestions.Thesewere:
• CPGI: TheCanadianProblemGamblingIndexresultswerebasedontheresponsestoQuestions10ofthe survey (see Appendix B).
• Gamblertype.SeeTable2.
• Criminogenicflag:Aflagtoindicatewhethertherespondenthasevercommittedagambling-relatedcrime,basedonacombinationofquestions26to29(seeAppendixB).
2.7 Region coding
Regioncodeisusedinweighting,andwasbasedonpostcode.Theavailabledatatoassignregionweretheareaofficejurisdictionslist(whichlistedthesuburblocationsofallDCSofficeslocatedwithinaregion),andalistofpostcodeswithlocalitynamesfromAustraliaPost.Thestepstakentoassignsurveyrecordstoregionswere:
• thesamplepostcodewasmergedwiththeAustraliaPostlisttofindthelocalitynamesforeachpostcode in the sample
• thesamplewasmergedwiththejurisdictionslistbysuburbnametolookeduptheofficenameandregion for all the locality names in the sample
• recordswhichdidnotmatchwithanofficeandregioninthiswayweremanuallycheckedandassignedtoanoffice(atotaloffourpostcodeswereassignedinthisway)
• forthosepeoplewithnopostcode,theS1regioncodewasusedtoassignaregion
• anyunknownregionswereassignedtoMetropolitanregion(themostcommon)
2.8 Weighting
Useofweightingvariablesisastandardstatisticaltechniquewhichallowspopulationestimatestobedrawnfrom a sample.
Thesampledatawasweightedasfollows:
Thesampleof570respondentswasweightedtopopulationcountsofDCSclients.AtthetimeofthesurveythenumberofCommunityCorrectionsoffenderseligibletoparticipatewas11,998people.
PopulationcountsofeligibleoffenderswereprovidedbyRegion,IndigenousStatusandgender.ThepopulationsprovidedincludedasmallnumberwhoseIndigenousstatuswasunknown.ThesecountswereassignedanIndigenousstatusbasedontheproportionofpeopleinthesamegenderandregionwithknownIndigenousstatus.
RecordsareweightedaccordingtotheRegion/Indigenous/Genderstratumwhichtheyfallinto.Weightingisasimplenumber-raisedmethod,inwhichthesampleinagivenweightingstratumisweightedtothepopulationcountforthatstratum,withallsampleunitsinthestratumreceivingthesameweight.
Onestratumhadasamplecountofone–IndigenousfemalesinMetropolitanregion.Forthepurposesofweighting,MetropolitanfemaleswerecollapsedwithfemalesinSouthernRegion.
Tableswereproducedforeachquestioninthesurveyseparately.Somesurveyrespondentsdidnotanswerallthequestions.Weightswerecalculatedquestionbyquestion–thatis,onlythoserespondentswhogiveananswertoaparticularquestionwereincludedinthetableforthatquestion.
2.9 General information on output tables
Tablescontainingpopulationestimatesofnumberandpercentageaccompaniedby95percentconfidenceintervals have been supplied.
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Level of disaggregation
Eachquestioninthesurveywascrosstabulatedagainstthefollowingmarginalvariables:
• gender
• 10yearagegroup(under25,25–34,35-44,45-54,55+)
• Indigenousstatus
• gamblingtype
• criminogenicflag
• reportingregion
15Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
3. Queensland Community Corrections problem gambling prevalence survey 2004 – results
3.1 Representative validity of the sample
Otherthanregionalconsiderations,thefourstratameasuredwere:
• male
• female
• Indigenous
• non-Indigenous
IneachstratathesampleprovidedanadequaterepresentationofthetotalCommunityCorrectionspopulationas seen in Table 4
Table 4 Sample representation
Strata Survey sample Total Community Corrections population
Male 78.88% 78.6�%
Female 21.12% 21.�7%
Total Indigenous 17.78% 16.91%
Total non-Indigenous 82.22% 8�.09%
Indigenous male 14.4% 12.97%
Indigenous female 4.8% �.94%
3.2 Prevalence and the gambling types
Table 5belowoutlinestheprevalenceoftheCPGIgamblingtypesbasedonthe570interviewsinthesample.Comparisonsarethenmadewiththeprisonpopulationandthegeneralpopulation.
Table 5 CPGI gambling types: community, prison and general population comparisons
CPGI CategoryCommunity Corrections
prevalence (%)
Number in category
Estimated number of
offenders in Community Corrections
Prison population
comparisons* (%)
General Queensland population
(%)**
Non-gambling 15.1 86 1816 8.4 19.7
Recreational (non-problem)
51.0 291 6126 48.� 72.4
Lowrisk 12.2 69 1458 1�.5 5.�
Moderaterisk 12.� 70 1475 12.4 2.0
Problem gambling 9.4 54 112� 17.4 0.5
TOTAL 100% 570 11998 100% 100%
*Figurestakenfromthe Department of Corrective Services Prison Survey 2002whichmeasuredtheprevalenceofproblemgamblingamong the prison population.
**Figuresbasedon2004QueenslandgeneralpopulationprevalencesurveyprovidedbytheQueenslandOfficeofGamingRegulation.
Non gambler group: 15.1 per cent of those surveyed did not gamble at all. This compares to 8.4 per cent of the prisonpopulationand19.7percentofthegeneralpopulationwhoarenongamblers.
Recreational gambler group: Recreational gamblers comprise the largest group in this survey at 51.0 per cent of respondents. This is a similar result to the prison population at 48.� per cent but is less than the generalpopulationat72.4percent.Gamblersinthisgroupdonotgenerallyplayheavilyandarenotlikelytoexperienceanyadverseeffectsoftheirgambling.Basedonthesefigures,itappearsthatcustodialandcommunitycorrectionsoffendersaremuchlesslikelytoberecreationalgamblersthanthegeneralpopulation.
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Low risk gambler group: Lowriskgamblersmakeup12.2percentofthesamplegroupwhichrepresentsapproximately1,460peoplecurrentlyoncommunitycorrectionorders.Thispercentageissimilartotheprisonpopulationestimateat13.5percentandovertwicethatofthegeneralpopulationat5.3percent.
Likerecreationalgamblers,thelow-riskgroupdonotappeartogambleheavilyandrarelyexperienceanyadverseeffectsfromgambling.TheCPGIidentifiesthoseinthelowriskgroupasbeingatriskiftheyrespondpositivelytotwoormoreofthecorrelatesofproblemgamblingandareheavilyinvolvedingambling.
Moderate risk gambler group: Moderateriskgamblersmakeup12.3percentofrespondentswhichtranslatestoapproximately1,475peoplecurrentlyoncommunitycorrectionorders.Thispercentageisalmostidenticaltothatoftheprisonpopulation(12.4%)andoversixtimesthatofthegeneralpopulationattwopercent.
Moderateriskgamblersaremorelikelytohaveexperiencedsomeproblemswithgamblingbehaviourthanlowriskorrecreationalgamblers.Theyarealsolikelytogamblemorefrequentlyandutilisemoregamblingproductsthanthetwopreviousgroups.Inthissensemoderateriskgamblersareeffectively‘atrisk’ofbecoming problem gamblers and are potentially in need of intervention to prevent this happening and to address any adverse behaviours they may already be experiencing.
Problem gambler group: Problemgamblersmakeup9.4percentofrespondentswhichrepresentsover1,120peoplecurrentlyoncommunitycorrectionorders.Whileinpercentagetermsthisfigureisapproximatelyhalfthatoftheprevalenceintheprisonpopulation(17.4%),itnonethelesstranslatestoaround17timesthatofthegeneral population at 0.55 per cent.
Problemgamblersarethosewhohaveexperiencedadverseconsequencesfromtheirgamblingandarelikelyto have lost control of their behaviour in this regard. This group participates in a greater number of gambling activitiesthananyothergroup,tendstoplaymorefrequentlyandwithgreateramountsofmoneyand,importantlyforCorrectiveServices,arebyfarthemostlikelygrouptohavecommittedagambling-relatedoffence (41%) 24.
Takentogether,theproblemgamblingandmoderateriskgroupsrepresent21.6percentornearly2600peoplein the current community corrections population. A further 150 offenders scored as non gamblers on the CPGI yetstillhavecommittedagambling-relatedoffence.Liketheproblemgamblerandmoderateriskgroups,manyinthisgroupmaybeinneedofinterventionorassistancetodealwithgambling-relatedproblems.Thiswillparticularly be the case if gambling abstinence has been less than voluntary such as due to imprisonment.
3.3 Socio-demographic comparisons
Age
According to the Queensland Household Gambling Survey 2001 55 per cent of the problem gambling group are agedbetween18and34years.Thisissignificantlyhigherthantheestimatednumberinthegeneralpopulation(�6%) 25. In a study of offenders in the Australian Capital Territory 85.7 per cent of the problem gambling group werealsointhisagegroup 26.
Inthepresentstudy,while72.5percentoftheproblemgamblinggroupareaged18to34,thisagegroupcomprises76.5percentofthetotalCommunityCorrectionspopulation.Incontrast,the35to44yearoldgroup,whocomprise15.8percentofthecommunitycorrectionspopulation,areover-representedintheproblemgamblingandmoderateriskgamblinggroups,at24.5percentand20percentrespectively.
Gender
Overall,thesamplegroupcomprised78.9percentmaleand21.1percentfemale.Thiscomparesto78.6per cent and 21.4 per cent respectively for the total Community Corrections offender population. The sample thereforeadequatelyreflectedthegeneralCommunityCorrectionspopulation.
TherearenostatisticallysignificantgenderdifferencesacrosstheCPGIcategoriesoringamblingpatternsofbehaviour.Therewerealsonomeasurabledifferencesingambling-relatedcriminalactivitybetweenthegenders.
24 Thisfigureisbasedonresponsestosurveyquestions26to29whichrelatedtoallgambling-relatedoffencesandcouldinclude offencesforwhichnochargeswerelaid. 25 Above,n1,13 26 J.LahnandP.Grabosky,Gambling and Clients of ACT Corrections Final Report (2003)CentreforGamblingResearch,Regulatory InstitutionsNetwork,AustralianNationalUniversity,51
17Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Intermsofcomorbiditiesslightlymorewomen(63%)thanmen(52%)statedthattheyhaveexperienceddepressioninthelast12months.Significantlymoremales(50%)thanfemales(34%)haveusedalcoholordrugswhilegamblingbutlesswomen(28%)thanmen(36%)felttheygambledmoreundertheinfluenceofalcohol or drugs.
Slightlymoremales(39%)thanfemales(33%)wouldbewillingtoattendafreegamblinghelpprogrambutlesswomen(23%)thanmen(33%)statedtheywouldnotbeinterestedinattendingsuchaprogram.
Family/upbringinginfluences
a) Adults in family gambled
Respondentsinthemoderateriskandproblemgamblergroupsweremorelikelytoindicatethattheygrewupinhouseholdswhereadultseitheralwaysoroftengambled.Thismayindicatethatthenormalisationofgamblingduringtheirupbringinghasaninfluenceinthedevelopmentofgamblingproblemsasadults.
Figure 2 Did adults in family gamble by gambling group
b) Agefirstgambled
Respondentsintheproblemgamblergrouparemostlikelytoindicatethattheirfirstgamblingexperienceoccurred prior to 18 years of age (44%).
Figure 3 Age of first gambling experience by gambling group
Marital/partner status
Forty-threepercentoftheproblemgamblergrouphavenopartner.Asthelowestpercentageofanyofthegroups,thiscontinuesadownwardtrendasseeninTable6.ThiscontrastswiththefindingsoftheQueensland Household Gambling Survey 2001 (QHGS) inwhichtheproblemgamblinggroupweretheleastlikelytobepartnered(42%)andtherecreationalgroupthemostlikely(68%)27.
27 Above,n1,13.Nofiguresweregivenonnongamblers.
Non gambler
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
No,Never Yes,Rarely, Sometimes
Yes,Always,Often
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
17 or younger 18 or over
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
70%
80%
51
4448
26
�6 �6
41
���7 �6
1� 1114
�4
27
2627
�1
44
72 7�69
56
18 Games People Play
Table 6 Unpartnered by gambling group
Gambler group % with no partner
Non gambler 59
Recreational gambler 54
Lowrisk 57
Moderaterisk 45
Problem gambler 4�
Sample average 5�
TheQHGSproposesthatthismaybeduetotherelativelyyoungageoftheproblemgamblinggroup28. While this may be so in the general population it does not explain the opposite phenomena in the Community Correctionspopulationwheretheunder34agegroupisunder-representedintheproblemgamblergroupandthe �5-44 age group overrepresented.29
Household issues
Theinvolvementofanoffender’spartneringamblingactivitydoesnotseemtohaveanybearingontheoffender’sgamblingtype(Table7).Whilethepartnersofnongamblersarelesslikelytogamblethanthepartnersofgamblers,thereisnosignificantdifferenceinthegamblingactivityofpartnersinthefourgamblinggroups.
Table 7 Gambling of partner by gambling group
Gambler group Partner has gambled (%)
Non gambler 9
Recreational gambler 28
Lowrisk 20
Moderaterisk �9
Problem gambler �2
Differencesareseenhoweverinthestressthatgamblingplacesontherelationshipbetweenthegamblerandtheirpartner.Table8outlinesthepercentageofrespondentswheregamblinghasNOTcausedargumentsbetweentheoffenderandtheirpartner/spouse.
Table 8 Gambling and household arguments by gambling group
Gambler group Gambling has NOT caused arguments (%)
Non gambler 90
Recreational gambler 94
Lowrisk 79
Moderaterisk 61
Problem gambler 28
Employment
Over �0 per cent of the total cohort are unemployed compared to 4.6 per cent in the general Queensland population�0.ThisreflectstheCommunityCorrectionspopulationasawhole.Fifty-onepercentofthesamplegroupareemployedeitherfull-time,part-timeorcasually.
Problemgamblersarethemostlikelygrouptobeunemployedoronapension.AsimilarstudyamongoffendersinACTcorrectionsalsofoundproblemgamblersareslightlymorelikelytobeunemployed�1. This contrastswiththefindingsoftheQueensland Household Gambling Survey 2001whichfoundthat:
Mostpeopleinthelowrisk,moderateriskandproblemgamblinggroupsareemployedfull-time,part-time,casuallyorself-employed.Althoughpeoplewhoareretired,whoarestudentsorwhohavefull-timehomedutiesmightberegardedashavingmoreavailabletimetogamble,theypresentashavingfewerproblemswithgamblingthanthoseintheworkforce.�2
28 Ibid.29 Seeabove,n1,15�0 AsatFebruary2005.QueenslandOfficeofEconomicandStatisticalResearchwebsitehttp://www.oesr.qld.gov.au�1 Above,n26,53�2 Above,n1,14
19Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Problemgamblersaretheleastlikelytobeemployedeitherfull-time,part-timeorcasually(34.5%)whilerecreationalgamblersarethemostlikelytobeemployed(55.7%)followedbynongamblers(50.7%)andmoderateriskgamblers(50.4%).
Figure 4 Employment by gambling group
Income
IncomelevelsweregenerallyreflectiveoftheCommunityCorrectionspopulation.Interestinglyinviewoftheemploymentfiguresabove,theproblemgamblergrouphasaslightlylowerpercentageofrespondentsearningunder$10,000.Problemgamblersalsohavethehighestpercentageofthoseearningabove$40,000ofanyofthe gambling groups.
Figure 5 Income by gambling group
Education
Justunderhalf(47.2%)ofthetotalrespondentshavecompletedyear10astheirhighesteducationallevel.ThisisreflectiveoftheCommunityCorrectionspopulation.Whilethedifferencesacrossgamblingtypeswerenotsubstantial,thereweresomeapparenttrendsthatareworthyofcomment.Forexample,moderateandproblem gambler groups reported a higher than average per centage of respondents completing year 10. The datasuggestedthatthemoreseveretheproblemwithgambling,thelesslikelytherespondentistohavecompletedyear12.Interestinglyhowever,problemgamblerswerethemostlikelygrouptoreportcompletingapost-secondaryeducation(22%).ThisismostcommonlyaTAFE,ratherthanauniversity,qualification.Bywayofcomparison,theproportionofallAustralianswithadiploma,advancedcertificateorless(postsecondaryschool)is30.2percentwhiletheproportionwithaBachelordegreeorhigheris18.1percent.��
�� AustralianBureauofStatistics,“Proportionofallpersonsaged15-64withanon-schoolqualification”(2003),http://www.abs.gov.au
Non gambler
Moderate risk
Problem gambling
Recreational gambling
Full-time
Part-time casual
Unemployed
CDEP
Pension/retired
30%
25%
20%15%
10%
5%
0%
35%
40%
45%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Low risk
Under$10,000
$10,000-$40,000
$40,000+
Non gambler
Moderate risk
Problem gambling
Recreational gambling
Low risk
28
25
�8
4
12
�6
20
26
1
19
�0
17
�0
4
19 20
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6
20
24
10
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2
28
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42
22
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5�
11
�4
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9
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52
8
29
49
14
20 Games People Play
Figure 6 Education level by gambling group
3.4 Gambling and behavioural issues
Gambling perceptions
Itappearsthatthemoreseverethegamblingproblem,thegreaterthetendencytowardsfaultycognitionsregardingthelikelihoodofgamblingwins.Thismaysupporttheviewthatcognitivedeficienciesplayaroleinthe development of some gambling problems�4.InbothexamplesshowninFigure7,problemgamblersare,statisticallyspeaking,significantlymorelikelytoagreethanthesampleaverage.
Figure 7 Perceptions of increased likelihood of gambling winnings
Games played
Electronicgamingmachines(EGMs)arebyfarthemostpopulargamblingactivityacrossallgroups.InstantScratch-ItsandLottoproductsaresimilarlypopularacrossmostgamblinggroups.KenoismostpopularamongthemoderateandproblemgamblinggroupsandcardplayingissignificantlymorepopularamongproblemgamblersandespeciallyIndigenousplayers.Figure8showsallgamblingactivitiesplayedbyrespondentsinthe12monthspriortothesurvey.Figure9thencomparesthiswiththegamenominatedbyrespondentsastheone played most often in the last 12 months.
Figure 8 All gambling activities by gambling group
�4 Aboven1,20
Year 10 or less
UptoYear12
Post Secondary/TAFE
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
Agree that after losing many times you are more likely to win
AgreethatifanEGMhasn’tpaidout in a while it is due to pay
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
EGM* Scratchits Keno Horses,Dogs
Lotto etc
Table Games
Cards Sports betting
Dice Bingo Internet
*Electronicgamingmachines(Pokies)
60%
50%
40%
30%20%
10%
0%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Non gambler
Recreational Low risk
Moderate riskProblem
11
2015
44
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58
45
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9
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94
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55 56
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40
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6
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4 26
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21Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Figure9clearlyshowsthedominantpositionofEGMsonthegamblingactivityoftherespondentgroup.Thisisparticularlysoamongmoderateandproblemgamblerswhere70percentand84percentrespectivelynominatedthepokiesastheirmostplayedgamblingactivity.
Figure 9 Game played most often by gambling group
Frequency and duration
Figures10and11showthefrequencyanddurationofplayrespectively.Recreationalandlowriskgamblersareprominentamongthosewhogambleonceaweekorlessandwhospendlessthanonehouroneachgamblingsession.Moderateriskandproblemgamblerspredominateamongthosewhogambletwiceormoreeachweekandwhospendanythingoveronehourineachgamblingsession.Asignificantlygreaterproportionofmoderateriskgamblersplayfor1-2hourspersession(45.4%comparedtotheaverageforthesampleof18.3%)whiletheproportionofproblemgamblerswassignificantlyhigherthananyothergroupamongthosewhoplayedforanythingover3hourspersession.
Figure 10 Frequency of play by gambling group
Figure 11 Hours per gambling session by gambling group
*Electronicgamingmachines(Pokies)
< 1 per week
1 per week
2-3 per week
4-5 per week
> 5 per week
< 1 hour 1-2 hours 3-4 hours > 4 hours
60%50%40%30%20%10% 0%
70%80%90%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
70%
EGM* Scratchits Keno Horses,Dogs
Lotto etc
Table Games
Cards Sports betting
Dice
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
70
84
20
85 4 5 5 4
27 5 6
2
26
5� 2 2
5 5
01 2
4 41 2
0 0 02 1
0
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45
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7.5
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66.5
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19.8
45.4
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9.9
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16.5
66
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22 Games People Play
Gambling expenditure
Only19percentofthemoderategamblergroupspendlessthan$20pergamblingsession.Thisissignificantlylessthantheaverageforthetotalsample(48%).Unsurprisinglytherefore,58percentofthisgroupspend$40ormorepergamblingsessionwith27percentspendingupwardsof$60persession.
Seventy-eightpercentoftheproblemgamblinggroupspendmorethan$40pergamblingsessionwith61percentspending$60ormorepersession.Whenweconsiderthat41percentofproblemgamblersplaytwotofivetimesperweek,theaccumulativeimpactoftheirgamblingexpenditurebecomesclear.
Figure 12 Expenditure per session by gambling group
Thesurveyobtainedinformationonwhetherrespondentsgambledforanythingotherthanmoney.Table9detailstheresponsestothisquestion:
Table 9 Non cash gambling stakes
Item No of respondents
Cigarettes 10
Alcohol 7
Favours(unspecified) 5
Drugs 2
Artwork 1
Lollies/Chocolate 2
Other �
While“favours”remainedunspecifiedanecdotalevidenceprovidedtotheresearcherssuggestedthatsomefavours may be sexual.
Help-seeking behaviour
a) Self exclusions: The Gambling Legislation Amendment Act 2004 introduced a range of amendments across the gaming statutes of Queensland. While self-exclusion provisions have been a part of the voluntary Problem Gambling Code of Practice since its inception in 2002�5,theActrepresentedthefirsttimethatself-exclusionwasspecificallydealtwithinlegislation.
In introducing the Bill to Parliament the Treasurer noted in his second reading speech:
Thebill’simplementationofalegislativemodelforanewexclusionsregimeforpeopleexperiencingproblemscontrollingtheirgamblingbehaviourisofparticularsignificance…Itincludesenhancementsto the current procedures for self-exclusions to standardise the self exclusion provisions and create a dutyforgamblingproviderstoexcludethecustomeratthecustomer’srequest�6.
�5 QueenslandResponsibleGamblingCodeofPractice:TrialandReview(2002)QueenslandTreasury,section3�6 GamblingLegislationAmendmentBill2004,secondreadingspeech,18May2004.
< $20 $20-$39 $40-$59 $60 or more
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%10%
0%
70%80%
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
76.9
48.7
18.9
6.8
1�.�
�0
21.1
1�.9
5.8 5.6
�1.5
16.7
1.4
15.2
26.7
60.7
2�Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
�7 See the Gambling Legislation Amendment Act 2004�8 Above,n1,23�9 M.Rockloff,andG.Schofield,“FactorAnalysisofBarrierstoTreatmentforProblemGambling” Journal of Gambling Studies (2004) 20 (2),12240 D.Hodgins,etal,“PathwaystoRecoveryfromGamblingProblems:Follow-UpfromaGeneralPopulationSurvey”Journal of Gambling Studies(1999)15(2),9341 M.AlbaneseandH.Shaffer,“TreatmentConsiderationsinPatientswithAddictions”Primary Psychiatry2003,10(9),5542 ReportedinGCooper,“ExploringandUnderstandingOnlineAssistanceforProblemGamblers:ThePathwaysModel” International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction,(2003)1(2)http:www.pasinfo.net/journal/v1i2/v1i2a04article.html
Thesurveysoughttodeterminewhatpercentageofrespondentshadaccessedtheselfexclusionprocesses.Suchsmallnumbersofrespondentshaveselfexcludedthatthesefigureswerestatisticallyunreliable.Table10thereforedetailsthepercentageofrespondentswhohavenot self excluded from gambling venues. Whileinrealtermsthenumberofrespondentswhoselfexcludeislow,thetrendispredictablewithproblemgamblersbeingtheleastlikelytohave never excluded(74.3%)orthemostlikelytohaveselfexcluded.Thereasonsforthelowtakeupratemayincludealackofunderstandingofthesystemandthefactthatcurrentlyexclusions operate on a venue by venue basis. This means that even if a gambler excludes him/herself from one venue they can still access gambling at another. Numbers accessing the self-exclusion process has been disappointing(seeTable11).Inrecognitionofthis,theGovernmenthasintroducedanewself-exclusionprocesstobeginonMay1,2005�7.
Table 10 Self exclusion from gaming venue by gambling type
Gambling type Never self-excluded from gaming venue (%)
Non gambler 94
Recreational gambler 94
Lowrisk 94
Moderaterisk 90
Problem gamber 74
b) Help-seeking
Aswithselfexclusionabove,thenumberswhohavesoughtgambling-relatedhelparegenerallysolowastobestatisticallyunreliable.Table11thereforeshowsthenumberswhohave not accessedhelpwithgamblingproblems in the last 12 months.
Table 11 Per centage who have not sought help with gambling in past 12 months
Gambling type Never sought help with gambling (%)
Non gambler 94
Recreational gambler 98
Lowrisk 99
Moderaterisk 9�
Problem gamber 86
Ofrespondentsintheproblemgamblergroup,11.6percenthavesoughtandreceivedgambling-relatedhelpinthepast12months.Theremainder(2.4%)eitherdidnotrespondtothequestionorsoughthelpanddidnotreceiveit.ThisfigureisconsistentwiththefindingsoftheQHGSwhichindicatedthat57percentofproblemgamblersdonotwanthelpandthat19percentofthisgroupactuallyseekhelp(howeverdefined)withtheirgambling problems�8.
WhiletheQHGSquotesafigureof57percentwhodonotwanthelp,otherstudieshaveplacedthisfigureashigh as 82 per cent�9. This phenomenon is not exclusive to Queensland. A recent Canadian study revealed that 5outof6adultswithgamblingproblemswerelikelytorecoverwithouttreatment40whileBostonresearchersAlbaneseandShafferacknowledgethatrecoveryfromaddictionsgenerallyismorecommonwithouttreatmentthan previously thought41. Another study pessimistically reported that only � per cent of American problem gamblersseekprofessionalhelpinanygivenyear42.
24 Games People Play
Basedonthesefindingsaresultofover11percentofproblemgamblersseekinghelpisanencouragingoneandmayindicateawillingnessonthepartofmanyCommunityCorrectionsoffenderstorespondpositivelytoany assistance provided by Corrective Services to overcome their gambling problems.
c) Help source
Thesurveyaskedatheoreticalquestionregardingwhererespondentsfelttheymightseekgambling-relatedassistanceifevertheyneededit(Figure13).FamilyandfriendswereunsurprisinglythemostfavouredsourcesofhelpfollowedbytheGovernmentfundedGamblingHelpservices(includingtheGamblingHelpLineandface-to-faceGamblingHelpcounsellingservices).TherelativelyhighrecognitionofGamblingHelpandthefactthattheyarefullyfundedbytheQueenslandGovernmentmakesthemtheobviouschoicetoprovidegamblingassistancetooffenderswithintheCustodialandCommunityCorrectionsystems.
Of particular encouragement is the fact that so many respondents nominated their Community Correction casemanagerastheonetheywouldmostlikelygotoforhelp.CasemanagerscameinbehindtheGamblingHelpservicesandjustaheadofotherlocalcounsellingservicesinthechoiceofrespondents.Thisbeingso,there is a need for some level of training/orientation to be provided to case managers on the issues involved in assessing and providing assistance to those experiencing gambling problems. This is particularly the case whentheproblemgamblingislinkedtocriminalbehaviourorispotentiallyso.
Inlinewiththefindingsofresearchoutlinedabove,theproblemgamblinggrouparetheleastlikelytoseekhelpfromthemajorityofsourcesandthemostlikelygrouptostatethey“don’tknow”wheretoseekhelp.Partofthereasonforthereluctanceofproblemgamblerstoseekhelpistheincreasinglywelldocumentedpreferenceofthisgrouptohandletheproblem“ontheirown.”Researchfoundthat82percentofbothresolvedandactiveproblemgamblershadadesireto“handletheproblemontheirown.”4� According to theworkofNathanthistendencytoself-recoveryissomethingproblemgamblersshareincommonwithalcoholics.44
Inviewofthesefindings,theprovisionofself-helpmaterialsaswellasresourcesforfamilymembersmaybeofassistance.
Figure 13 Help sources by gambling group
4� SeeRockloffandSchofield,aboven39,12244 P.Nathan,“TheRoleofNaturalRecoveryinAlcoholismandPathologicalGambling”,(2003)Journal of Gambling Studies19(3),284
d) Free gambling help program
Whenaskediftheywouldaccessafreegamblinghelpprogramshouldtheyeverrequireit,theresultsareevenlyspreadbetweenyesandnoresponsesacrossallfourgroups.Whileproblemgamblersaremarginallytheleastlikelytoaccesssuchaservice,theyarealsotheleastlikelytorefuse(Figure14).Basedontheseresults,onethirdofproblemgamblers(33%)andslightlymorethanthisnumberofmoderateriskgamblers(36%)wouldbeinterestedinparticipatinginafreegamblinghelpprogramme.Twenty-sixpercentofproblemgamblersand36percentofmoderateriskgamblersarenotinterestedinparticipatinginsuchaprogram.Interestingly,41.5percentofproblemgamblerseitherdidnotknowordidnotspecifywhethertheywouldbeinterested in such a program.
Family
Friends
Community m
ember
Doctor/P
sych
Clergy
Community Corre
ctions
Counselling Servi
ces
Gambling help
Don’tknow
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
70%
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
6�
46 47
�9
4�
�5
44
�4
11 10
7 7
18
22
8
18
811
2
10
26
222�
15
2� 2�21
15
�5�8 �7
27
42
6
12
25Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Yes No
Community Corrections General population**QHGS,23
Alcohol/drug use while gambling
More likely to gamble with alcohol/drugs
60%50%40%30%20%10% 0%
70%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
80%
30%
25%
20%15%10%
5% 0%
40%35% Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
Non gambler
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
Figure 14 Willingness to access free gambling help program by gambling type
Depression,alcoholanddruguse
a) Gambling and depression
The self perception of depression is much more prevalent in the Community Corrections sample population than that reported in the general population by the Queensland Household Gambling Survey 2001 (Figure 15).
AmongtheCommunityCorrectionsrespondents,moreoftheproblemgamblinggroup(80%)reportedfeelingdepressedinthepast12monthsthananyothergroup.Sixty-eightpercentofmoderateriskgamblersreportedsimilarly.Inthegeneralpopulationtheselfperceptionofdepressionamongproblemgamblers(51%)wassignificantlyhigherthaninmoderateriskgamblers(21%).
Figure 15 Self perception of depression in Community Corrections and the general population by gambling type
�7 �9 �6
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�9 �8 �6
26
4451
49
68
80
1� 11
21 21
51
40.2
7076
8�
24.4
�8
72 72
b)Gambling,alcoholandotherdruguse
Malerespondentsaresignificantlymorelikelytohaveusedalcoholand/orotherdrugswhilegamblingthanfemales (50.5% to ��.7% respectively).
Problemandmoderateriskgamblersaresignificantlymorelikelythanthesampleaveragetohaveusedalcoholordrugswhilegambling(83%and76%comparedto47%respectively).Similarly,problemandmoderateriskgamblersaresignificantlymorelikelytoreportincreasedgamblingactivitythanthesampleaverage,whileundertheinfluenceofalcoholordrugs(72%and72%comparedto34%respectively).
Figure 16 Alcohol and drug use and influence on gambling activity by gambling type
26 Games People Play
Gambling and crime
Thesurveyaskedasuiteofquestionstodeterminewhetherrespondentshadcommittedgambling-relatedoffences.Overall,problemgamblersaresignificantlymorelikelytohavecommittedagambling-relatedcrimeatsometimeinthepast(40.7%comparedtothesampleaverageof10.6%)whilerecreationalgamblersaresignificantlylesslikelytohavecommittedsuchanoffence(4%).Generallyspeaking,thefurtheralongthecontinuumtowardsproblemgamblingthegreaterthelikelihoodofagambling-relatedcriminalhistory(seeFigure 17). The one exception to this trend concerns the non gambler.
Whilerespondentsinthenon-gamblergrouphavenotgambledinthe12monthspriortothesurvey,asmallbut notable number of these offenders have committed a gambling-related offence.
Around 8.2percentofthosesurveyed,representingnearly150offenderscurrentlyintheCommunityCorrections system appear to be non gamblers and yet have committed a gambling-related offence in the past.
Thereisthereforesomepotentialforthoseinthiscategorytohaveexperiencedgamblingproblemsinthepast,butforavarietyofreasons,includingimprisonment,self-correctionorprofessionalassistance,haveceasedtogamble in the past year.
Asimilargamblingprevalence/gambling-relatedcrimecontinuumdescribedaboveisalsoapparentwhenweexaminethoseoffenderswhosecurrentoffenceisgambling-related.Onceagain,problemgamblersaresignificantlymorelikelytohavecommittedacurrentgambling-relatedoffencethanthesampleaverage(18.2%compared to 4.7% respectively).
Whilethetrendsinrelationtogamblingprevalenceandcrimeareconsistentinbothanalyses,itisimportanttonotethattheincidenceofgambling-relatedcrimeislesswhenwelookatonlycurrentoffences.Thismeansthatanoffender’sproblemswithgamblingmaybeoverlookedifassessmenttoolsfocusonlyoncurrentoffences or on recent history.
Gambling-related offence anytime
Gambling-related offence current
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Non gambler
Recreational
Lowrisk
Moderaterisk
Problem gambler
8.24.2
11
17.2
41
5.22 �
7
18
Figure 17 Gambling-related offences ‘anytime’ and ‘current’ by gambling type.
27Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
45 SeebelowunderRemoteIndigenousCommunities
IndigenousAll played
Non-IndigenousAll played
IndigenousMost played
Non-IndigenousMost played
60%50%40%30%20%10% 0%
70%EGM
Instant Scratchits
Keno
Horses,Dogs
Gold Lotto
Table games
Cards
Sports betting
Dice
Bingo
Internet
4. Indigenous and regional issues
4.1 Indigenous variants
Overall
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders comprised 19.2 per cent of those surveyed compared to 16.1 per cent of the total Community Corrections population.
Prevalence
Slightly more Indigenous than non-Indigenous respondents are non gamblers (18% and 14% respectively) but ahigherpercentageofIndigenousrespondentsaremoderaterisk(17%)andproblemgamblers(14%)thannon-Indigenousrespondents(11%and8%respectively).Interestingly,Indigenousrespondentsarelesslikelyto be recreational gamblers (�9%) than non-Indigenous respondents (54%). See Table 12.
Table 12 Indigenous, non-Indigenous gambling prevalence comparison by gambling type
Gambling type Indigenous Non-Indigenous
Non gambler 18.4 14.4
Recreational gambler �8.7 5�.7
Lowrisk 12.2 12.2
Moderaterisk 17.0 11.�
Problem gambler 1�.7 8.4
Gambling behaviour
Indigenousrespondentsarelesslikelytohaveplayedelectronicgamingmachines(51%),GoldLotto(28%)orKeno(19%)inthelast12monthsthannon-Indigenousrespondents(67%,43%and32%respectively)butsignificantlymorelikely(19%)tohaveplayedcardsformoneythannon-Indigenousrespondents(8%).Theyarealsosignificantlymorelikelytoplaycardsastheirmostdominantgamblingactivity(8%)thantheirnon-Indigenouscounterparts(lessthan1%).Similarly,Indigenousrespondentsaresignificantlymorelikelytohaveplayedcardsastheirfirstevergamblingactivity(14%)comparedtonon-Indigenousrespondents(5%).Thesefiguresmayreflecttheinfluenceofso-called“cardschools”or“cardpits”inIndigenouscommunities.45
Figure18compares“allgamesplayed”byIndigenousandnon-Indigenousrespondentsinthelast12monthswithwhichgamerespondentsnominatedastheonetheyplayedmost.InbothcasescardplayingistheonlystatisticallysignificantdifferenceingamblingactivitybetweenIndigenousandnon-Indigenousgamblers.
Figure 18 Gambling activity by Indigenous status
51
40
19
14
28
19
9
4 4 6
1
67
54
�2
25
4�
1085
25
1
�7
12
42
11
58
20 0 0
44
0 0
12
46
15
1 0.�
6
0.�
5 5
28 Games People Play
46 Atotalof24responseswerereceivedfromtheIndigenouspopulationinthesecommunitiesoutofatotalCommunityCorrectionspopulation of �8�.
Thirty-onepercentofIndigenousrespondentsreportedthattheycommencedgamblingbetweentheagesof10and17comparedto23percentofnon-Indigenousrespondentswhocommencedgamblingatthisage.ThisplacestheIndigenoussampleinasimilarcategorytothemoderateriskgroup,30percentofwhombegangamblingbetweentheagesof10to17.
Help seeking
TwelvepercentofIndigenousrespondentsindicatedtheyhadsoughttoexcludethemselvesfromgamblingvenuescomparedto3percentofnon-Indigenousrespondents.ThisreflectsboththehigherprevalenceratesofmoderateriskandproblemgamblingamongtheIndigenouspopulationandmayalsoindicateagreaterwillingnesstotakeactiontoremedytheproblem.However,Indigenousrespondentsarenomorelikelytoseekhelpfromfamily,friendsorprofessionalservicesthantheirnon-Indigenouscounterparts.Interestingly,amuchhigherpercentageofIndigenousrespondentsstatedtheywouldaccessafreegamblinghelpprogramifitwereavailable (50%) than non-Indigenous respondents (�7%).
Attitudes to gambling
Indigenousrespondentsaresignificantlymorelikelytoagreethat“gamblingwinningsareusedtosupportfamilies”(21%)thannon-Indigenousrespondents(8%).
Household issues
Indigenousrespondentsaresignificantlymorelikelytobelivingwithapartner(37%)thannon-Indigenousrespondents(20%)andareslightlylesslikely(45%)tohavenevermarriedthantheirnon-Indigenouscounterparts (52%).
InspiteofthehigherrateofmoderateriskandproblemgamblingprevalenceamongIndigenousrespondents,gamblingissignificantlylesslikelytohavecausedargumentsinIndigenoushouseholds(59%)thaninnon-Indigenous households (78%).
Remote Indigenous communities
ResearchwasconductedamongremoteIndigenouscommunitiesatAurukun,PormpuraawandYarrabahintheQueenslandGulfcountry.Whilethecombinedresponsesforthesecommunitieswassmall46,theresearchnonetheless highlights some issues for future investigation.
The general gambling prevalence rates for these communities are seen in Table 1�.
Table 13 Community Corrections gambling prevalence in remote Indigenous communities
Gambling type Aurukun,Pormpuraaw,Yarrabah (%)
Total Indigenous
NonIndigenous
General Queensland population
Non gambler 16.7 18.4 14.4 19.7
Recreational gambler 25.0 �8.7 5�.7 72.4
Lowrisk 16.7 12.2 12.2 5.�
Moderaterisk ��.� 17.0 11.� 1.9
Problem gambler 8.� 1�.7 8.4 0.5
Atfirstglancetheproblemgamblerprevalencerateappearsencouraging,beinglessthantheoverallIndigenousrateof13.7percentandmoreinlinewiththenon-Indigenouscohort(8.4%).Itmustberemembered,however,thatthesecommunitiesdonothavereadyaccesstogamblingvenueswiththerangeofproductsavailabletothoseinlessremotecommunities.Inspiteofthislackofaccesstocommercialgamblingproducts,theproblemgamblerprevalencerateremainsnearly17timesthatofthegeneralQueenslandpopulation.
Anotherissueofinterestistheelevatedprevalenceofmoderateriskgamblers.At33percentthemoderateriskgroupisnearlytwicethatofthetotalIndigenoussampleandagainover17timesthatofthegeneralQueenslandpopulation.Asmanymoderateriskgamblersexperienceadverseimpactsofgambling,areatincreasedriskofgambling-relatedcriminalactivityandareeffectively‘atrisk’ofdevelopingproblemgamblingbehaviours,thisfiguremayindicatesomecauseforconcern.
29Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Afurtherissueworthconsideringisthatthesamplepopulationfromtheseremotecommunitiesappearstobeless recreational in their gambling behaviour than the rest of the sample group. While recreational gamblers comprisethelargestgroupinthegeneralcommunity(72.4%),thenon-Indigenouscommunitycorrectionssample(53.7%)andtheIndigenoussample(38.7%),thisisnotthecasewiththeremoteIndigenoussample.At25percent,theprevalenceofrecreationalgamblinginthesecommunitiesrunssecondtomoderateriskgambling.
Onereasonforthesefiguresmaybefoundintheimportantplaceof“cardschools”inthesocialfabricofremoteIndigenouscommunities.Certainlythecurrentsurveyhighlightsthatcardplayingissignificantlymorepopular among Indigenous respondents than non-Indigenous. Card schools or card pits are regular community events based around card playing for money.
Commenting generally on the place of card schools in the remote communities the Corrective Services researcher noted:
The card school is very important to community members as it is the only time the community meets socially.Itisconsideredaveryimportantinteractivemeetingwiththegoingsonbetweenpeoplediscussed. Politics of the community are also brought up and discussed. Some of the most popular andfrequentlyplayedgamesare“3card”,“25”,“Cutem”and“Koocan”.
ReportingspecificallyaboutthecardschoolsatAurukun,theresearchercommented:
ThereareregulardaysforcardschoolsinAurukunthatcoincidewiththereceiptof“sitdownmoney”(Governmentbenefits).
TheAurukunCommunityJusticeGroupcoordinatoradvisedthatgamblingwinningscirculatearoundthecommunityandthereforestayinthecommunity.Thereisnotavoluntarysharingofwinningsbutitistakentosettlekinshiporpastclaims.Becauseofthemoneyspentongambling,thecommunitymembers cannot learn to plan or budget their money. Gambling is therefore an enormous problem in Aurukun.
AtarecentmeetingoftheAurukunJusticeGroupitwasrequestedthatajusticegrouppolicybeputinplace to ban a person from the canteen for interrupting the card school. This highlights the importance that community members place on the card school
Aswellasthefinancialimpactsofgamblingtherewerealsoreportsofgambling’sinfluenceondomesticviolence in the remote communities.
It appears that in these communities gambling may not simply be a recreational activity but an important facet ofsocialinteraction.Failuretotakepartmayrisksocialexclusion.AstheQueenslandGovernmentstrategyinrelation to problem gambling is largely premised on the fact that gambling is a recreational activity delivered commercially,adifferentapproachmayberequiredtodealwiththeproblemsassociatedwithgamblinginthese remote communities.
Attheveryleast,thereisaneedforfurtherresearchintotheplaceofcardschoolsandthesocialimpactofthese events in remote Indigenous communities.
4.2 Regional variants
Prevalence
TherewerenostatisticallysignificantregionalvariantsinregardtotheCPGIgamblinggroups.Ahigherpercentage of Metropolitan respondents reported as non gambler (2�.6%) compared to the average (15.1%). The highestpercentageofproblemgamblerswasfoundintheCentralRegion(13.2%comparedtotheaverageof9.4%).
Indigenous origin
WhileIndigenousrespondentscomprised19percentofthetotalsample,thepercentageofIndigenousrespondentsfromtheNorthernRegionwassignificantlyhigherat55percent
Gambling activity
PerhapsreflectingthehigherIndigenouscohort,theNorthernregionshowedamuchgreaterincidenceofcardplayinginthelast12monthsat16.2percentcomparedtothesampleaverageof9.8percent.Inanswertothequestion,“Whathaveyougambledmoston?”theNorthernrespondentsagainshowedsignificantlyhighercommitment to card playing at 7.2 per cent compared to the average of 1.6 per cent.
Southernrespondentsarestatisticallymorelikelytohavecommencedgamblingat18yearsorover(78%)thantheaverage(64%).Similarly,Southernrespondentsaresignificantlymorelikelytohavefirstgambledonpokermachines(46%)thanNorthernrespondents(27%).AsnotedaboveNorthernrespondentsaresignificantlymorelikelytohavefirstgambledwithcards(15%)thananyothergroup(at5%).
�0 Games People Play
Beliefs and attitudes to gambling
Inresponsetothestatement,“Ifapokermachinehasn’tpaidoutinawhilethenitmustbeduetopayout”,Metropolitanrespondentsaresignificantlylesslikelytoagree(19%)thantheirSouthern(37%)orNorthern(��%) counterparts.
Help seeking
SouthernRegionrespondentsaresignificantlymorelikelytoseekgambling-relatedhelpfromeithertheirCommunityCorrectionsCaseManager(41%)orthegovernmentfundedGamblingHelpservices(53%)thananyothergroup(24%and37%respectively).Southernrespondentsarealsothemostlikelytoseekhelpfromeachoftheotherstatedhelpsources.Similarly,Southernrespondentsaresignificantlymorelikelytoattendafree gambling help program (55%) than any other group (�7%). Metropolitan respondents are statistically the leastlikelytoaccesssuchaprogram(17%).
�1Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
References
Albanese,M.andShaffer,H.“TreatmentConsiderationsinPatientswithAddictions”Primary Psychiatry (2003),10 (9)
Cooper,G.“ExploringandUnderstandingOnlineAssistanceforProblemGamblers:ThePathwaysModel”International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction,(2003)1(2)http:www.pasinfo.net/journal/v1i2/v1i2a04article.html
Crofts,P. Gambling and Criminal Behaviour. An Analysis of Local and District Court Files,(2002),CasinoCommunityBenefitFund,Sydney
Crofts,P.Researching the Link Between Gambling and Crime (2003)Paperpresentedto‘EvaluationinCrimeandJustice:TrendsandMethods’conference,AustralianInstituteofCriminology,Canberra24-25March2003.
Doley,R.Want to make a Bet? Gambling and Crime in Australia. (2000) Australian Centre for Policing Research
Ferris,J.andWynne,H. The Canadian Problem Gambling Index Draft User Manual(2001),CanadianCentreonSubstance Abuse
Hodgins,D.,Wynne,H.andMakarchuk,K.“PathwaystoRecoveryfromGamblingProblems:Follow-UpfromaGeneralPopulationSurvey”Journal of Gambling Studies (1999)15(2),93
Lahn,J.andGrabosky,P.GamblingandClientsofACTCorrectionsFinalReport(2003)CentreforGamblingResearch,RegulatoryInstitutionsNetwork,AustralianNationalUniversity
Nathan,P.“TheRoleofNaturalRecoveryinAlcoholismandPathologicalGambling”Journal of Gambling Studies 19 (�) 200�
PricewaterhouseCoopers,Serious Fraud in Australia and New Zealand (200�) Australian Institute of Criminology
ProductivityCommission1999,Australia’s Gambling Industries, ReportNo.10,Ausinfo,Canberra
Problem Gambling Prevalence Survey 2002,DepartmentofCorrectiveServices
Queensland Household Gambling Survey 2001 (QHGS),(2002)QueenslandTreasury
Queensland Responsible Gambling Strategy,(2002),QueenslandTreasury
Rockloff,M.andSchofield,G.“FactorAnalysisofBarrierstoTreatmentforProblemGambling”Journal of Gambling Studies(2004)20(2),122
Sakurai,Y.andSmith,R.Gambling as a Motivation for the Commission of Financial Crime,(2003)AustralianInstitute of Criminology
Watt,N.Law of the Flies: Problem Gambling and its Impact on the Law in Queensland (awaiting publication 2005)
�2 Games People Play
Appendix ACommunity Corrections/Custodial Corrections gambling type comparisons
ThetablesbelowprovidecomparisonsbetweentheproblemgamblingprevalencesurveysamplesofthepresentCommunityCorrectionsstudyandthe2002CustodialCorrectionssurvey.Theinformationreflectsthedemographicprofilesoftherelevantpopulationgroups.Somecharacteristicsarenotdirectlycomparableacrossthetwosamplesduetodifferencesinthesurveyinstrumentsusedtocollectthedata.
Table 14 Non-gambling group Community Corrections/Prison population comparisons
Non-gambling group Community Corrections Prison population
Prevalence 15.1% 8.4%
Gender 82% male18% female
60% male40% female
Indigenous status 22% Indigenous78% non-Indigenous
67% Indigenous��% non-Indigenous
Age range 71% up to �528.7% �5-540% 55 and over
5�% 18-�440% �5-547% 55 and over
Marital status 47% never married19% defacto7% married27%divorced/separated/widowed
5�% never married27% defacto1�% married
Country of birth 75.9% Australia 80% Australia
Highest education level 45% year 10 or less�7% up to Year 1218% post secondary
87% completed Year 10 or less
Work status 28%full-timework�8% unemployed12% pension4%CommunityDevelopmentEmploymentProject(CDEP)25% part-time or casual
20%full-timework20% unemployed20% pension20%CDEP
Income* 36%<$10,000perannum43%$10,000-$40,00022%$40,000+
73%<$10,000perannum
* Some attributed more than one income source
Table 15 Recreational gambling group Community Corrections/Prison population comparisons
Recreational gambler group
Community Corrections Prison population
Prevalence 51.1% 48.�%
Gender 77% male2�% female
56% male44% female
Indigenous status 1�% Indigenous87% non-Indigenous
�9% Indigenous61% non-Indigenous
Age range 78% up to �519% �5-54�% 55 and over
60.5% up to �5�6% �5-54�.5% 55 and over
Marital status 55% never married22% defacto8% married12%divorced/separated/widowed3%unspecified
50% never married20% defacto19%divorced/separated/widowed
��Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Country of birth 75.9% Australia 80% Australia
Highest education level 45% year 10 or less�7% up to Year 1218% post secondary
87% completed Year 10 or less
Work status 28%full-timework�8% unemployed12% pension4%CDEP25% part-time or casual
20%full-timework20% unemployed20% pension20%CDEP
Income* 36%<$10,000perannum43%$10,000-$40,00022%$40,000+
73%<$10,000perannum
* Some attributed more than one income source
Table 16 Low risk gambling group Community Corrections/Prison population comparisons
Low risk gambler group Community Corrections Prison population
Prevalence 12.2% 1�.5%
Gender 8�% male17% female
54% male46% female
Indigenous status 18% Indigenous82% non-Indigenous
��% Indigenous67% non-Indigenous
Age range 84% up to �515% �5-541% 55 and over
70% up to �5�0% �5-540% 55 and over
Marital status 5�% never married25% defacto2% married17%divorced/separated/widowed3%unspecified
54% never married��% defacto
Country of birth 91% Australia 92% Australia
Highest education level 58% year 10 or less��% up to Year 126% post secondary
42% completed Year 10 or less33%VocationalEducationandTraining(VET)12.5% post secondary
Work status 30%full-timework�0% unemployed14% pension4%CDEP17% part-time or casual7% retired/other
21%full-timework47% unemployed
Income* 34%<$10,000perannum53%$10,000-$40,0009%$40,000+4%unspecified
55%<$20,000perannum30%$80,000+(obtainedillegally)
* Some attributed more than one income source
�4 Games People Play
Table 17 Moderate risk gambling group Community Corrections/Prison population comparisons
Moderate risk gambler group Community Corrections Prison population
Prevalence 12.�% 12.4%
Gender 77% male2�% female
7�% male27% female
Indigenous status 25% Indigenous75% non-Indigenous
45% Indigenous55% non-Indigenous
Age range 74% up to �526% �5-540% 55 and over
77% up to �52�% �5-540% 55 and over
Marital status 46% never married25% defacto2% married25%divorced/separated/widowed2%unspecified
45% never married41% defacto
Country of birth 91% Australia 95% Australia
Highest education level 62% year 10 or less29% up to Year 127% post secondary
45% completed Year 10 or less27%VET14% post secondary
Work status 20%full-timework��% unemployed14% pension6%CDEP�0% part-time or casual6% retired/other
21%full-timework27.5% unemployed27.5% pension
Income* 34%<$10,000perannum52%$10,000-$40,0008%$40,000+6%unspecified
51%<$30,000perannum41%$80,000+(obtainedillegally)
* Some attributed more than one income source
Table 18 Problem gambling group Community Corrections/Prison population comparisons
Problem gambler group Community Corrections Prison population
Prevalence 9.4% 17.4%
Gender 82% male18% female
61% male�9% female
Indigenous status 25% Indigenous75% non-Indigenous
�5% Indigenous65% non-Indigenous
Age range 7�% up to �524% �5-54�% 55 and over
58% up to �5�9% �5-54�% 55 and over
Marital status �8% never married�0% defacto7% married22%divorced/separated/widowed3%unspecified
�9% never married�2% defacto16% separated/divorced
Country of birth 90% Australia 84% Australia
Highest education level 56% year 10 or less22% up to Year 1222% post secondary
52% completed Year 10 or less26% completed senior16%VET6.5% tertiary
�5Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Work status 24%full-timework44% unemployed19% pension2%CDEP10% part-time or casual9% retired/other
26%full-timework42% unemployed25% pension
Income* 29%<$10,000perannum49%$10,000-$40,00014%$40,000+8%unspecified
49%<$30,000perannum42%over$80,000+(obtainedillegally)
* Some attributed more than one income source
�6 Games People Play
Appendix BSurvey instrument
Q.1 How old are you? (Age last birthday) years
Q.2 Are you male or female? Male Female
Q.3 What is your postcode? _ _ _ _
Don’tknow/can’tremember Refuse
Q.4 Where were you born?
Australia
UK/Ireland
NewZealand
Vietnam
Other(specify)……………………………………………….
Q.5 Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?
Yes,Aboriginalorigin Yes,TorresStraitorigin
No
ForpersonsofbothAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderorigin,tickboth“Yes”boxes
Q.6 What is the main language spoken at home? (Please tick(Please tick one box)one box)
English
Chinese
Greek Vietnamese
Italian
Other(specify)……………………………………………….
Q.7 What is your marital status? (Please tick(Please tick one box)one box)
Married
Livingwithpartner Separated/divorced
Never married
Widowed
�7Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Q.8 In the past 12 months have you played any of these?(Pleasetick everything you have played)
Pokies(pokermachines) .....................................................................
Betonhorses,dogsorotheranimals .................................................
Sports betting (other than animals) ....................................................
Bingo ..................................................................................................
Internet gambling ...............................................................................
Card games (for money other than casino) ..........................................
Dice games (for money other than casino) ...........................................
Instant Scratch-Its ...............................................................................
GoldLotto,Powerball,OzLotto,GoldenCasket ...................................
Kenoatacluborhotel ........................................................................
Blackjack,Roulette,oranyotherCasinogame ....................................
Othergame–pleasewritedownitsname ...........................................
I have not played any of these in the last 12 months - Go to Q11
Q.9 In the past 12 months what have you gambled the most on? (Pleasetick only oneonly one box)
Pokies(pokermachines) .....................................................................
Betonhorses,dogsorotheranimals .................................................
Sports betting (other than animals) ....................................................
Bingo ..................................................................................................
Internet gambling ...............................................................................
Card games (for money other than casino) ..........................................
Dice games (for money other than casino) ...........................................
Instant Scratch-Its ...............................................................................
GoldLotto,Powerball,OzLotto,GoldenCasket ...................................
Kenoatacluborhotel ........................................................................
Blackjack,Roulette,oranyotherCasinogame ....................................
Othergame–pleasewritedownitsname...........................................
Howmanytimesperweekdoyouusuallyplayontheactivityyou’vechosen?(Pleasetick only oneonly one box)
Lessthanonceperweek Onceaweek 2-3timesperweek
4-5timesperweek 6-7timesperweek More than 7 times
About how long do you play each time you gamble on that activity?(Pleasetick only oneonly one box)
Less than one hour 1-2 hours �-4 hours Over 4 hours
�8 Games People Play
…and,abouthow much moneydoyouspendeachtimeyougambleonthatactivity?(Pleasetick only oneonly one box)
Lessthan$20 $20-$39 $40-$59 $60ormore
Doyougamblewiththingsother than money?(eg.cigarettes,alcohol,artwork,favours)
Yes No
Ifyes,whatdoyougamblewith?………………………………………………….
Q.10 How much do you think the following statements apply to you?(please tick(pleasetick one box for each statement)
Inthelast12months, I have bet more than I could afford to lose.
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
In the last 12months, I have needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement.
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
Inthelast12months,I have gone back another day to try to win back the money I lost.
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
Inthelast12months, I have borrowed money or sold something to get money to gamble..
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
Inthelast12months,I have felt I might have a problem with gambling. have felt I might have a problem with gambling..
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
Inthelast12months,gamblinghascausedmehealthproblems(includingstress,anxiety)..
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
In the last 12 months, other people have criticised my betting or told me they think I have a gambling problem..
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
Inthelast12months,mygamblinghascausedfinancialproblemsformeormyhousehold(eg.Ihavebeenunable to pay bills)..
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
Inthelast12months, I have felt guilty about the way I gamble or what happens when I gamble..
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
�9Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
Q.11 Do you agree or disagree with the following statements.Do you agree or disagree with the following statements. (Pleasetick one box for each statement)
Whilegambling,afterlosingmanytimesinarow,youaremorelikelytowin.
Agree Disagree Don’tknow
Ifapokermachinehasn’tpaidoutinawhilethenitmustbeduetopayout.
Agree Disagree Don’tknow
Whilegambling,youcanwinmoreifyouuseasystemorstrategy.
Agree Disagree Don’tknow
Ifyoucontinuegamblingintheend,youwilllose.
Agree Disagree Don’tknow
Q.12 When you were a child growing up:
Did any of the adults in your household gamble?
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
How did people in your household feel about gambling
Therewasnogambling Theythoughtitwasbad Theythoughtitwasnormal
Theythoughtitwasagoodthing
Q.13Ifyouhavegambled,atwhatagedidyoustartgambling?
Less than 5 years old 5-9 years old 10-14 years old 15-17 years old 18 years or older
Onwhattypeofactivitydidyoufirstbetorgamble?(Pleasetickonlytheoneyoufirstplayed)
Pokies(pokermachines) ....................................................................
Betonhorses,dogsorotheranimals.................................................
Sports betting (other than animals) ....................................................
Bingo .................................................................................................
Internet gambling ...............................................................................
Card games (for money other than casino) ..........................................
Dice games (for money other than casino)...........................................
Instant Scratch-Its ..............................................................................
GoldLotto,Powerball,OzLotto,GoldenCasket...................................
Keno at a club or hotel ........................................................................
Blackjack,Roulette,oranyotherCasinogame ....................................
Other game–pleasewritedownitsname...........................................
I have never gambled on anything ......................................................
40 Games People Play
Q.14 In the last 12 months have you tried to exclude yourself from a gambling venue (asked the venue not to let you back in)?
No,never Yes,andvenuekeptmeout Yes,butvenueletmebackin
Q.15 In the last 12 months have you ever sought help with problems related to gambling?
No,never Yes,Isoughthelpandreceivedhelp Yes,Isoughthelpbutreceivednohelp
Q.16Ifyouneededhelpforproblemsrelatedtogambling,wherewouldyougo?(youmaytick more than one box)
To my family .......................................................................................
To friends ...........................................................................................
To respected members of the community ............................................
To a doctor or psychologist .................................................................
To a church minister/priest .................................................................
To my Community Corrections case manager ......................................
To local counselling & support services ..............................................
To Gambling Help Services/Gambling Help Line .................................
Idon’tknowwheretogethelp ...........................................................
Other (please specify) ........................................................................
Q.17 The following statements are about gambling generally. How much do you agree or disagree with each one?(pleasetick theanswerthatbestdescribeswhatyouthink)
Gambling provides harmless amusement for people.
I strongly disagree I disagree I have no opinion I agre I strongly agree
People who gamble regularly win money.
I strongly disagree I disagree I have no opinion I agre I strongly agree
Gambling winnings are used to support families.
I strongly disagree I disagree I have no opinion I agre I strongly agree
Gambling takes too much money out of the community.
I strongly disagree I disagree I have no opinion I agre I strongly agree
Overall,gamblingcausesmoreharmthangood.
I strongly disagree I disagree I have no opinion I agre I strongly agree
Q.18Inthelast12months,hasyourpartnergambled?
I have no partner........................................................................................ Go to Q.19
My partner has not gambled in the last 12 months ..................................... Go to Q.19
Yes,mypartnerhasgambledinthelast12months
41Problem gambling among offenders in Queensland Community Corrections
(Please tick everything you think your partner has played)
Pokies(pokermachines) ....................................................................
Betonhorses,dogsorotheranimals.................................................
Sports betting (other than animals) ....................................................
Bingo .................................................................................................
Internet gambling ...............................................................................
Card games (for money other than casino) ..........................................
Dice games (for money other than casino)...........................................
Instant Scratch-Its ..............................................................................
GoldLotto,Powerball,OzLotto,GoldenCasket...................................
Keno at a club or hotel ........................................................................
Blackjack,Roulette,oranyotherCasinogame ....................................
Other game–pleasewritedownitsname...........................................
Q.19Inthelast12months,hasgamblingcausedargumentswithinyourhousehold?(pleasetick one box only)
No,never Yes,rarely Yes,sometimes Yes,often Yes,always
Q.20 Which of the following best describes how you currently get your income? (pleasetick one box only)
workfull-time CDEP
part-time/casualwork sickordisabilitypension
child support
retired
unemploymentbenefits other,pleasedescribe…………………………………………………………….
Q.21 What is your approximate annual income? (pleasetick one box only)
Lessthan$10,000
$10,000-$19,999
$20,000-$29,999
$30,000-$39,999
$40,000-$49,999
$50,000-$59,999
$60,000-$69,999
$70,000-$79,999
$80,000+
42 Games People Play
Q.22 What is the highest level of education you have completed? (pleasetick one box only)
No formal schooling (Year 7 or less)
Year 10 or less
Year 11
Year 12
VET/TAFE
Degree
Post-graduatequalification
Q.23Inthelast12months,haveyoueverfeltseriouslydepressed?
Yes No Don’tknow/can’tremember Refuse
Q.24Inthelast12months,haveyouusedalcoholordrugswhilegambling?
Yes No Don’tknow/can’tremember Refuse
Q.25Doyoufindthatyougamblemorewhileundertheinfluenceofalcoholordrugs?
Yes No Don’tknow/can’tremember Refuse
Q.26 Were any of your current offences committed to get money to gamble or pay gambling debts?
Yes No Don’tknow/can’tremember Refuse
Q.27 Have you ever committed a crime to obtain money to gamble or pay gambling debts?
Yes No Don’tknow/can’tremember Refuse
Q.28Haveyouevercommittedacrimetoobtainmoneytopaysomeoneelse’sgamblingdebts?
Yes No Don’tknow/can’tremember Refuse
Q.29 Has gambling ever caused you to do something that was wrong or illegal?
Yes No Don’tknow/can’tremember Refuse
Ifyes,whathaveyoudonethatwaswrongorillegal?____________________
Q.30 If a free program was available to assist you with gambling problems would you be interested in participating?
Yes No Don’tknow Refuse
That is the end of the survey. Thank you very much for completing it. If you have any comments you would like to make about this survey or about gambling please do so on the next page.
COMMENTS…................................................................................................................................
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