Gambling addiction has contributed to 184 suicides in Victoria over eight years, although the true figure could be much higher, a landmark study of coroner’s court data has found.
The research, led by Dr Angela Rintoul from Federation University and published in the Lancet Regional Health Journal, found the vast majority of cases involved men aged between 17 and 44.
The report calls for gambling ads to be banned to protect vulnerable people, reinforcing the recommendations of a parliamentary inquiry into gambling that are currently being considered by the federal government.
Rintoul said she believed the number of suicides could be higher as gambling was not routinely investigated by coroners and was often hidden from family and health professionals. The report assessed data from 2009 to 2016.
“This study shows that gambling contributes to a considerable proportion of suicide cases,” the report said. “Coroners could consider whether there may be opportunities in the death investigation process to improve the collection of information about gambling contexts in suicides.”
Rintoul said gambling-related suicides had likely increased since 2016 due to the compounding effects of the Covid pandemic, when online gaming increased, and stress associated with cost-of-living pressures.
The report also found that suicides were “significantly more likely to occur among those most disadvantaged”. It noted there is a higher concentration of poker machines in poorer communities.
“This study indicated that ineffective regulation of gambling can lead to devastating outcomes for people who gamble at high-risk levels, their families and broader society,” the report said.
Rintoul’s team assessed coroner’s court case information for keywords such as “gambling”, “wagering”, “betting”, “TAB”, “SportsBet”, “pokies” and “casino”, before making a judgment whether suicides were gambling related.
The research was funded by the National Suicide Prevention Research Fund, which is managed by Suicide Prevention Australia on behalf of the federal government.
Suicide Prevention Australia’s chief executive, Nieves Murray, said the report demonstrated the urgent need to accept the gambling inquiry’s recommendations.
“We know that gambling harms are often invisible,” Murray said. “Unfortunately, protective factors for suicide, such as social and financial supports, are compromised by the financial harms of gambling. This often leaves people vulnerable to risk factors of suicide.”
The Alliance for Gambling Reform’s chief executive, Carol Bennett, said the report demonstrated why gambling should be regulated like a public health issue rather than entertainment.
“We must adopt a national public health approach to preventing gambling-related deaths consistent with the approach to other products that involve commercial determinants of health, such as tobacco, alcohol and other drugs,” Bennett said.
“We know gambling causes financial distress but also poor health, mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, family violence, poverty and homelessness. Now we have evidence of significant numbers of gambling-related suicide.”
Lauren Levin, a harm reduction campaigner at Financial Counselling Australia, said many families were unaware of the influence gambling addiction had on their loved ones.
“Not only are gambling-related suicides happening, but the attempted suicides are also a market of harm and attempts are not being counted,” Levin said.
The group of campaigners and Rintoul are calling for gambling-related suicides to be reported annually in parliament, which would require state coroners to investigate links to wagering.
One of the examples provided by the report was of a man with the pseudonym Darren who was feeling depressed about his gambling and feeling that his life was worthless.
“In the months leading to his death, Darren attended a gaming venue daily to play the poker machines and place bets at the TAB. Darren’s best friend saw him just before his death and suspected that Darren was depressed. Darren told him that he didn’t have enough money for food,” the report said.
The federal government is being lobbied by the gambling industry to water down the inquiry’s recommendations, while many harm reduction advocates want action to be taken after the voice referendum to ensure public scrutiny.
In Australia, Gambling Help Online is available on 1800 858 858. The National Debt Helpline is at 1800 007 007. In the UK, support for problem gambling can be found through GamCare on 0808 8020 133. In the US, the National Council on Problem Gambling is on 800-522-4700.
In Australia, support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, and at MensLine on 1300 789 978. In the UK, the charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393 and Childline on 0800 1111. In the US, call or text Mental Health America at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
