New Study Reveals 45% of Young Australians Gamble Weekly, Linking Gambling to Alcohol Consumption

A new study from the Australian Institute for Family Studies and the Australian Gambling Research Centre has found that 45% of Australians aged 16 to 35 gamble on a weekly basis. The research, titled *Bets ‘n’ Booze*, was conducted online with 1,100 participants who joined the survey through a social media advertising campaign.

The study revealed distinct gender preferences in gambling products. Female gamblers favored lottery, keno, and instant scratch cards, while male gamblers leaned towards sports betting and pokies (slot machines). In addition to these preferences, the research highlighted a strong connection between gambling and alcohol consumption. According to the findings, 80% of those surveyed reported drinking alcohol while gambling, and 14% stated that they drank more alcohol as a result of their gambling activities. Many participants also expressed the belief that both gambling and alcohol consumption are considered rites of passage for those under 18 years old.

The study found that 76% of the participants had gambled in the past 12 months, and 45% of the respondents reported gambling weekly. Among male participants, 75% had gambled on sports events in the past year, while 76% played pokies regularly. In comparison, 75% of females had gambled on scratch cards in the last 12 months, and 39% of them had bet on sports events. Furthermore, 52% of males reported gambling on scratch cards during the same period.

The link between gambling and alcohol consumption was one of the most striking aspects of the study, with 80% of gamblers admitting to drinking while gambling, and 14% stating that gambling led them to consume more alcohol. A quarter of the participants revealed that they had regrets following gambling sessions, while 20% were identified as high-risk gamblers.

Underage gambling also emerged as a concern, with 29% of participants admitting to having gambled as minors. Additionally, 34% of those under 18 reported playing pokies, 20% bet on horse racing, 15% bet on sports, and 9% engaged in scratch card betting.

These findings come on the heels of a recent report by the Grattan Institute, which revealed that Australians experience the highest gambling losses in the world. The study showed that the average gambling loss in Australia stands at AU$1,635 ($1,105) per year, significantly higher than the averages in other countries with regulated gambling markets, such as the United States (AU$809, or $547) and New Zealand (AU$584, or $394).

By fLEXI tEAM