Consequences of Greater Gambling Accessibility

Samia Badji, Nicole Black and David Johnston

No 2021-06, Working Papers from Centre for Health Economics, Monash University

Abstract: Greater accessibility to gambling venues may increase gambling rates, and therefore enhance welfare through the additional enjoyment from gambling and the related socialising. However, it may also lead to problematic gambling, financial hardship and psychological distress. We provide new evidence on the potential benefits and harms of greater geographic accessibility to suburban gambling venues containing electronic gaming (slot) machines. Our setting is Australia, the world leader in per capita gambling expenditure. Our approach combines geolocations of gambling venues with longitudinal survey data on gambling behaviours and economic, health and social outcomes. We find that people residing in close proximity to gambling venues are more likely to gamble, less likely to be happy, and are more likely to suffer from financial hardship and mental health problems. We find no significant impacts on socialising, general health, relationship dissatisfaction, or crime victimisation. These findings have implications for the regulation of gambling venues.

Keywords: gambling; harms; mental health; financial hardship (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D10 H70 I10 I30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cwa, nep-hea and nep-isf
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