It is estimated that over 7% of Australians are at risk of gambling-related harms.¹ In Australia, 48% of men and 28% of women gamble at least weekly. Of these, 53% of men who gamble and 38% of women who gamble experience or are at risk of experiencing gambling-related harm.¹ When the impact of gambling on others is considered, even low-risk gambling affects other people (usually family members), rising to an impact of six people per typical problem gambler.² Gambling-related harms include effects on relationships, health, emotional wellbeing, finances and work/study, in addition to cultural harms and criminal activity.³ There has been extraordinary growth in recent years in opportunities to gamble, both in-person and online, leading to concern about the potential for associated harm, and a call for more research into the potential for screening in healthcare settings.⁴

While GPs wait for screening tools to be validated and tested in primary care to demonstrate improved health outcomes for gamblers, a case finding approach is warranted, given the opportunities afforded GPs by knowing their patients over time and within the context of their families and communities.

Calls for a public health approach to gambling will hopefully see reductions in the future rates of problem gambling, along the same lines as the success Australia has had in smoking cessation and immunisation. Health professional awareness of the problem is one factor within a larger conceptual framework required to address this problem.⁹

This approach allows for GPs to offer brief interventions, such as motivational interviewing or referral to gambling support helplines and websites, for patients who report gambling issues.

For specific recommendations and advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, please refer to the Gambling section in the National guide to a preventive health assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Gambling Help Online, an online counselling, information and support service for problem gambling issues (includes contact details for local face-to-face counselling and support)

National telephone counselling services:

• National Gambling Helpline, 1800 858 858
• National Debt Helpline, 1800 007 007