Nearly 30 percent of young people aged 12 to 17 in the Australian state of Victoria have reported participating in some form of gambling within the past month, a recent study shows.
The research, conducted by The Australia Institute academics Matt Saunders and Morgan Harrington, urges policymakers to adopt a broader public health perspective, as growing evidence shows that even low-risk gamblers collectively contribute to a significant burden of harm.
The study was based on data from Victoria, and estimates that gambling-related harm in the state rivals that of alcohol abuse and major depressive disorders.
“The public health burden is not confined to a small minority,” the authors wrote. “Even gamblers who do not meet the criteria for a gambling disorder can experience harm at a personal and social level.”
But perhaps most alarming is the study’s focus on teenage gamblers. According to the findings, nearly 30 percent of young people aged 12 to 17 reported participating in some form of gambling within the past month.
While many of these activities—such as scratch cards or private betting—may seem innocuous, the researchers warn that adolescent gambling is linked to riskier behaviors, poor academic performance, and early signs of addictive tendencies.
“Gambling during adolescence is strongly associated with increased risk of gambling problems in adulthood,” the report notes. It adds that the normalization of gambling through sports sponsorships, online platforms and gaming features such as loot boxes is blurring the line between entertainment and gambling for younger audiences.
Further restrictions requested
The study challenges traditional frameworks that treat gambling harm solely as a matter of individual responsibility. Instead, the authors argue, structural changes are needed—including restrictions on high-risk gambling products like electronic gaming machines (pokies), stronger consumer protections, and targeted interventions for vulnerable groups such as minors.
“The cumulative harm from non-problem gamblers, due to their large numbers, is actually greater than that from problem gamblers alone,” the study states. And when it comes to young people, the authors call for urgent prevention strategies in schools and media, where gambling is often glamorized or downplayed.
Australia has one of the highest per capita gambling losses in the world, with pokies accounting for a large portion of these losses. The study suggests the machines are intentionally designed to promote compulsive play and should be more strictly regulated.
“The current framing of gambling harm as an issue of personal responsibility is inadequate,” said the report. “This is a public health issue that requires a systemic response—especially when it begins affecting our youngest citizens.”
The country has been actively debating gambling reform, particularly in response to concerns about youth gambling and the broader public health impact.
The Victorian government has introduced legislation requiring poker machine venues to close between 4am and 10am to curb gambling harm. Meanwhile, a recent report from the Grattan Institute has also called for a complete ban on gambling advertisements and the introduction of maximum loss limits for pokies and online betting.
The report criticizes Australia’s lax regulatory approach, noting that the country has the highest gambling losses per capita in the world. The federal government is under pressure to act on recommendations from a Senate inquiry that proposed banning gambling ads within three years.
Legal scholars have also highlighted gaps in Australia’s gambling regulations, particularly concerning sports betting and eSports. Proposed reforms include banning gambling advertisements near schools, on public transport, and during live sporting events.
