A recent study on the relationship between alcohol use and gambling among adults in the Australian state of Victoria revealed that younger adults, higher-income individuals, and men were more likely to engage in both behaviors.
The study was conducted by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation and aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of the intertwined nature of alcohol use and gambling behaviors, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues jointly in policy and prevention efforts.
This report is based on a subsample of 2,704 Victorian adults who were asked about both their gambling and alcohol use.
One of the report’s main findings includes that participants who occasionally reported heavy episodic drinking were 1.7 times more likely to report any gambling, with participants who reported heavy episodic drinkers monthly were 3.1 times more likely to report any gambling.
According to the research, 69.1 percent of respondents gambled in the past year and 48.6 percent engaged in risky alcohol use, with 43.1 percent reporting heavy episodic drinking (HED).
The study found that 31.2 percent of gamblers drank while gambling, and 47.1 percent of heavy episodic drinkers did the same. Younger adults, higher-income individuals, and men were more likely to engage in both behaviors.
Alcohol use, especially while gambling, was linked to increased gambling risks and harms, with the report findings highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address these intertwined issues.
The study also highlighted the associated harms, with 10.4 percent of gamblers experiencing gambling-related harm. This figure increased to 12.7 percent among heavy episodic drinkers and 16.8 percent among those who drank while gambling.
Demographically, younger adults (18-34) and higher-income individuals were more likely to report both gambling and HED, with men more likely than women to engage in these behaviors.
The relationship between alcohol use and gambling also varied by the type of gambling product and frequency of gambling, with higher levels of alcohol use correlating with increased gambling risk as measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI).
The report also warned of the need for targeted interventions that address both alcohol use and gambling, especially among high-risk groups, and recommends enhancing public awareness and integrating support services for those affected by both issues.
