NCJ Number
211831
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2005 Pages: 17-23
Date Published
September 2005
Length
7 pages
Annotation
After a review of the literature, this study examined the validity of anecdotal reports that apprentices (youth that have left school and have entered the work force) in the building and construction industry in Australia are at risk for high rates of gambling and gambling-related problems.
Abstract
Recent expansions of the gambling industries in Australia have stimulated high rates of gambling participation and problematic gambling in the general population. This paper begins with a review of the literature indicating a rise in prevalence rate, as well as problematic gambling and being identified as a public and mental health problem in Australia. The research also indicates evidence suggesting that the increased availability has had a particularly marketed impact on young people. This study surveyed Australian apprentices (those young people who have left school and are employed in the work force) to develop a better understanding of the gambling behavior and gambling-related problems of young workers or apprentices. The final study sample consisted of 272 apprentices, 271 male and 1 female, in the building and construction industry, with an age range of 15 to 50 years. The findings indicate that 90 percent of the young apprentices reported gambling in the previous year with the highest participation rates reported for EGM gambling, racing, pool/snooker/billiards, casino table gambling, and lottery gambling. Sixteen percent of apprentices endorsed at least one gambling-related problem which is consistent with previous studies. This study provides the first empirical evidence that these apprentices engage in high rates of gambling, experience significant gambling-related problems, and report low rates of treatment seeking. References