Faculty of Education - Theses

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End date: 1998 × Start date: 1995 × Type: Masters Coursework thesis × Subject: Victoria × Subject: education ×

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    Adolescent gambling: a justification for gambling education programs targeting Victorian minors
    Hebron, Heather ( 1996)
    Gambling is a well established, integral aspect of Victorian communities and this is unlikely to change in the near future. The gambling industry has grown in recent times to become a billion dollar industry. Studies conducted by the Victorian Casino and Gaming Authority (DBM Consultants 1995) found that 90% of Victorian adults have placed a bet at some time in their lives with 77% having done so in the period 1994-1995. In total, Victorians spent $88.6 million per week on gambling. There is insufficient data available to fully comprehend the social impact of the gambling industry on Victorian communities. Clearly, today's adolescents are living in an environment that supports and promotes gambling. However, no research has been conducted that investigates the gambling behaviours and attitudes of Victorian minors prior to this study. Recent studies in the USA, the UK and Canada reveal that a high proportion of adolescents are regular gamblers with many experiencing problems related to their gambling behaviours. This thesis provides data on the gambling behaviours and attitudes of Victorian adolescents. The majority of the 200 adolescents involved in the study are gambling, with many doing so at a level that constitutes 'at risk' behaviour. This study provides justification for the introduction of gambling education in Victorian schools. It postulates that the appropriate curriculum framework for the inclusion of gambling education is primarily in the Health and Physical Education Key Learning Area alongside other risk taking behaviours. Given that informed and responsible gambling in moderation does little harm to the gambler or the community, the author recommends that the harm minimisation approach is the most suitable Health Education model for implementing gambling education programs in Victorian schools.