New Research Highlights Financial Harms Experienced By People Close To Gamblers

A new study has brought to light the additional impact gambling has on people associated with those with gambling problems.

Results showed that women were more likely to be affected by a family member’s gambling and men by a partner. Three in four ‘affected others’ experienced financial harm from the other person’s gambling.

Associate Professor Maria Bellringer, director of the Gambling and Addictions Research Centre at AUT, says changes to legislation and regulation of the gambling and financial sectors could mitigate harms.

“This could come in the form of implementing interest rate caps on credit-related services, and strengthening financial safeguards related to gambling, such as gambling transaction blocking or credit card restrictions,” Bellringer says.

“Additionally, there is a need to develop appropriate interventions and supports to address the specific types of financial-focused harms experienced by different genders and ethnic groups.

“Gambling-related harm support should be integrated into existing services that help with financial hardship, debt, economic abuse, and partner violence.”

The study, funded by Ministry of Health and conducted jointly by Greo Evidence Insights and AUT Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, surveyed 644 adult ‘affected others’ plus in-depth interviews with 29 ’affected others’.

In addition to financial harms, three in five of those surveyed experienced economic control by the gambler.

These harms existed in the context of broader life challenges and extended to whānau and community networks, says Bellringer.

Women ‘affected others’ were more likely to be late with bill payments while men ‘affected others’ were more likely to take on extra jobs to reduce the financial harm.

The results show there were some culturally related nuances especially with Māori and Pacific inter-familial obligations that could intensify emotional and financial interdependence.

Buy-now-pay-later services and high interest loans also compounded the financial harms.

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