Research shows that gambling behaviour is influenced by a person's beliefs about their likelihood of experiencing problems and what it means to gamble responsibly.
People who gamble at risky levels often overestimate how much their family or friends gamble and approve of risky gambling.
A survey of South Australian adults revealed that they think 46 per cent of adults bet on sports regularly (for example, every month) and 59 per cent of adults bet on sports at least once in their lifetime. The gambling prevalence in South Australia survey shows this figure is closer to 7 per cent of adults have bet on sports in the last 12 months.
An exaggerated perception of betting in the community can influence an individual’s decisions about their own gambling and make gambling appear more common than it actually is.
Getting an accurate picture of how much family and friends spend on gambling, how often they lose and what they really think of risky gambling may help you reduce your own gambling habits and recognise when your gambling is getting out of control.
Some research suggests that people who lose more than $40 a week, gamble more than once a week and participate in two-to-three different gambling activities are at a higher risk of gambling harm.
If you think your gambling behaviour is starting to worry you, go to Get Support.