Problem Gambling Essay

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Problem gambling is defined as “difficulties in limiting money and/or time spent on gambling which leads to adverse consequences for the gambler, others, or for the community”. For many Australians, gambling is a manageable and socially acceptable activity. But, for some Australians the activity develops into a serious issue with negative effects on health. A number of authors have pointed out that there is a probability that sociological, psychological and biological processes are involved in the etiology of problem gambling. A theory was proposed that suggests that initial success with gambling acts as a driving factor for more likelihood of gambling behaviour to continue even with the success ratio getting declined after the first win. Further, it was proposed that arousal is a key determinant of gambling and the gambler uses gambling to regulate his arousal needs.(Brown R.,1987).Psychodynamic theory of gambling suggests that factors like physical separation such as death of loved ones, loss of job or status, divorce, low self-esteem or a sense of security is responsible for problem gambling. (Upfold D.,2014). The adverse effects of problem gambling are more pronounced among socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, those with poor literacy, people with pre-existing mental health problems, and people living in regions or metropolitan suburbs with high levels of unemployment and economic hardship. Approximately 5 million Australians feel the negative impacts on their health, social life and finances as a result of problem gambling and this includes friends, families, and employers of problem gambler. Other adverse effects of problem gambling include fam...

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...ian Commission ). An integrated approach by the state and territory governments, gambling industry, commonwealth government, Non-governmental organisations, and communities is required to address the issue. There stands a need for independent regulators which regulates gambling in each jurisdiction, incorporation of health and consumer concerns in policies and programs, robust and transparent government processes, adequate funding for research into gambling, concentration on well-being of public rather than sectoral concerns or governments’ revenue interests, effective liaison between various government and non-government entities that regulate gambling, increased peer support, public awareness programs & use of media as a platform to generate awareness among people, and delivery of essential information to the gambler about the devastating effects of gambling.

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