Electronic Gaming Machines

An emerging body of research has documented an association between problem gambling and domestic violence in a range of study populations and locations. Yet little research has analysed this relationship at ecological scales. This study investigates the proposition that gambling accessibility and domestic violence rates in postcodes might be linked.

This study describes the association between police-recorded domestic violence and electronic gaming machine accessibility at the postcode level. Police recorded family incidents per 10,000 and domestic-violence related physical assault offenses per 10,000 were used as outcome variables. Electronic gaming machine accessibility was measured as electronic gaming machines per 10,000 and gambling venues per 100,000. Bayesian spatio-temporal mixed-effects models were used to estimate the associations between gambling accessibility and domestic violence, using annual postcode-level data in Victoria, Australia between 2005 and 2014, adjusting for a range of covariates.

Significant associations of policy-relevant magnitudes were found between all domestic violence and EGM accessibility variables. Postcodes with no electronic gaming machines were associated with 20% (95% credibility interval [C.I.]: 15%, 24%) fewer family incidents per 10,000 and 30% (95% C.I.: 24%, 35%) fewer domestic-violence assaults per 10,000, when compared with postcodes with 75 electronic gaming machine per 10,000. The causal relations underlying these associations are unclear. Quasi-experimental research is required to determine if reducing gambling accessibility is likely to reduce the incidence of domestic violence.

Gambling using electronic gaming machines has emerged as a significant public health issue. While social impact assessments are required prior to the granting of new gaming licenses in Australia, there are few established techniques for estimating the spatial distribution of a venue’s clientele. To this end, we calibrated a Huff model of gambling venue catchments based on a geocoded postal survey (n = 7,040). We investigated the impact of different venue attractiveness measures, distance measures, distance decay functions, levels of spatial aggregation, and venue types on model fit and results. We then compared model estimates for different behavioural subgroups. Our calibrated spatial model is a significant improvement on previously published models, increasing R2 from 0.23 to 0.64. Venue catchments differ radically in size and intensity. As different population subgroups are attracted to different venues, there is no single best index of venue attractiveness applicable to all subpopulations. The calibrated Huff model represents a useful regulatory tool for predicting the extent and composition of gambling venue catchments. It may assist in decision making with regard to new license applications and evaluating the impact of health interventions such as mandated reductions in EGM numbers. Our calibrated parameters may be used to improve model accuracy in other jurisdictions.

Background and Aims The Total Consumption Theory of gambling suggests that gambling expenditure is positively associated with gambling-related harm. We test the hypothesis that electronic gaming machine (EGM) expenditure predicts gambling-related harm at the level of the EGM venue. Design Cross-sectional analysis of survey and administrative data. Setting General urban adult population of the Northern Territory of Australia. Participants Sample consisted of 7049 respondents to a mail-survey about venue visitation and gambling behaviour across 62 EGM venues. Measurements Gambling-related harm was defined as the endorsement of two or more items on the Problem Gambling Severity Index. We obtained venue-level EGM expenditure data from the local licensing authority for all venues in the study area. We compared the prevalence of gambling-related harm among patrons aggregated at the venue level with the estimated mean EGM expenditure for each adult resident in the venue’s service area using a Huff model, correlation analysis and multivariate binomial regression.  Findings Aggregated to the venue level (n = 62), per capita EGM expenditure was significantly correlated with rates of gambling-related harm [r = 0.27, n = 62, p = 0.03]. After adjusting for venue type and number of EGMs, an increase in mean per capita monthly EGM expenditure from AUD10 to AUD150 was associated with a doubling in the prevalence of gambling-related harm from 9% (95% CI 6% - 12%) to 18% (95% CI 13% - 23%).  Conclusions As suggested by the Total Consumption Theory of gambling, aggregate patron electronic gaming machine expenditure predicts the prevalence of gambling-related harm at the venue level.

The Italian gambling market has been growing since the 1990s, becoming one of the world’s largest markets. However, since 2004, a number of municipalities have taken measures to limit the negative outcomes of gambling by introducing local regulations, especially ‘timing’ and ‘zoning’ measures aimed at reducing the number of Electronic Gambling Machines. This attempt to limit gambling has sparked strong reactions from the State and the industry. Drawing on data from three focus groups conducted in two Italian Regions involving 30 participants belonging to a broad variety of stakeholders, the present study aims to provide a picture of the current debate on gambling regulation. The study applies qualitative content analysis to examine the stakeholders’ different arguments and shows how the rhetorical strategies of the industry – namely confining the risks to specific vulnerable targets, negative impact on the labor market, increase in illegal gambling, ineffectiveness of local regulation in reducing problem gambling – play a major role in the social construction of the problem. Other stakeholders’ and social actors’ arguments are weak by comparison. To counteract the industry’s rhetoric, more studies of gambling policies and regulation are needed, while scientific evidence should be more effectively disseminated.