Electronic gaming machine environment study – Wave 2 summary

Summary

Pokies are associated with more gambling-related harm than any other product, accounting for more than a third (37.7 per cent) of all gambling harm.

The Electronic gaming machine environment study – Wave 2 summary is an information and monitoring project funded by the Foundation. Data was collected via an in-venue survey of pokies users and an online survey of gaming venue staff. It provides a snapshot of the Victorian gambling venue environment and the attitudes and behaviours of customers and staff.

Conducted every 12 months, the project will provide important insights to inform the ongoing review and improvement of harm minimisation policies and approaches in Victorian gambling venues, and will provide critical data to help evaluate and monitor changes over time.

Findings

• Customers surveyed were regular pokies users with high rates of risky gambling.
• More than half gambled on pokies at least once a week, including a third who did so more often. Almost two-thirds were at some level of PGSI risk, with one in seven meeting the criteria for problem gambling.
• Over half experienced at least one SGHS harm.
• Those at greatest risk included younger people, those on low incomes, and those looking for work or in part-time or casual employment.
• Key behavioural indicators of risk include making multiple cash withdrawals, withdrawing more than $200, spending more than $200, betting $2 or more per spin most of the time, and gambling for two hours or longer.
• Gambling frequency was also strongly associated with problem gambling risk, particularly among younger gamblers.
• Staff generally reported high levels of confidence in identifying and responding to harm, however this did not translate to action.
• Younger and less experienced staff, who were least confident to recognise and respond to harm, tended to have the greatest exposure, due to factors like their role and the times they usually work.
• These staff cited worries including negative responses from customers, saying the wrong thing and making an incorrect judgement.
• Some potentially harmful behaviours appear to not be recognised as such. Concerningly, these include some of the strongest behavioural indicators of risk identified in the customer survey.
• Consistent with other research, staff have high rates of gambling participation and risk.
• Two-thirds of respondents had gambled on pokies in the past 12 months, and for each activity aside from lotteries/scratchies, participation rates were at least twice those of Victorian gamblers.
• Staff were twice as likely to be at risk according to the PGSI and almost twice as likely to experience harm.