Journeys towards harm: Gambling and gambling harm among young online sports bettors, from childhood to early adulthood

The Journeys towards harm: Gambling and gambling harm among young online sports bettors, from childhood to early adulthood report explores the progression towards gambling harm among young online sports bettors and the nature of these gambling behaviours. Interviews were conducted with 50 Victorians aged between 18 and 25 years, who reported moderate or high gambling harm from their sports betting during the past 12 months. The interviews retrospectively explored gambling journeys through childhood, adolescence and into early adulthood, as well as sources of influence and experiences of harm. Thematic narrative analysis was used to understand these experiences. The authors found that exposure to gambling in childhood and adolescence was common, with gambling influences abundant in media, sport ad gaming settings. Sports betting was found to be normalised and seen as a rite of passage. Young people, particularly those aged 16 or 17, were keen to participate (or increase their gambling) once they turned 18. Gambling journeys, experiences and responses to harm varied among young people. Some young people applied strategies to reduce their betting, beginning a journey away from gambling harm, while others either maintained or increased their gambling harm over time. For those that experienced gambling related harms, emotional and work/study harms were the most common. The study provides strategies recommended by young people to disrupt the harm journey including: personal strategies such as budgeting, limit setting and limiting alcohol consumption when gambling regulatory alterations including limiting advertising and betting inducements and stronger product warnings a cultural shift to disentangle gambling and sport alongside gambling awareness campaigns parental/guardian role modelling and school-based education programs on gambling.