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Cited by 82Gambling Behavior and TreatmentsSmoking Behavior and CessationImpact of Technology on Adolescents

Young people’s awareness of the timing and placement of gambling advertising on traditional and social media platforms: a study of 11–16-year-olds in Australia

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Thomas, Samantha L., Bestman, Amy, Pitt, Hannah, Cassidy, Rebecca, McCarthy, Simone, Nyemcsok, Christian, Cowlishaw, Sean, Daube, Mike·2018·Harm Reduction Journal
DOI 10.1186/s12954-018-0254-6PMC PMC6194705
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research has demonstrated that the promotion of gambling, particularly within sport, may have a significant impact on positively shaping young people's attitudes towards gambling. While some governments have implemented restrictions to limit young people's exposure to gambling advertising, few studies have investigated where young people recall seeing gambling advertising, and whether they perceive that advertising restrictions have gone far enough in reducing exposure to these promotions. METHOD: Mixed methods, interviewer-assisted surveys were conducted with n = 111 young people aged 11-16 years, who were self-reported fans of basketball in Victoria, Australia. Interviews were conducted at basketball stadiums between May and July 2018. The study assessed media viewing patterns; recall and awareness of the timing, placement, and content of gambling advertising; the impact of gambling advertising restrictions; and attitudes towards sporting organisations' roles in the promotion of gambling. RESULTS: The majority of young people recalled seeing gambling advertising on television (n = 101, 91.0%), with most recalling advertising within sporting matches or games (n = 79, 71.2%). Most young people recalled seeing gambling advertising in the early evening before 8:30 pm (n = 75, 67.6%). Just over half of young people described seeing gambling advertisements on social media (n = 61, 55.0%), and over a third (n = 40, 36.0%) recalled gambling advertising on YouTube, predominantly before watching sporting or gaming videos. The majority stated that they continued to watch sport after 8:30 pm (n = 93, 83.7%), which is when restrictions on advertising in live sport in Australia end. The majority (n = 88, 79.3%) stated that there were too many gambling advertisements in sport. Three quarters believed that sporting codes should do more to prevent young people from being exposed to advertising for gambling in sport (n = 84, 75.7%). CONCLUSIONS: There is now a clear body evidence that current regulatory systems for gambling advertising are ineffective, with further restrictions urgently needed across a range of media channels to prevent exposure to promotions that may encourage young people's interest and involvement in gambling.

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  • Advertisements and marketing promoting commodities harmful to health such as ultra-processed foods, tobacco, alcohol, and gambling are omnipresent and enhanced via home delivery platforms.

    “Advertisements and marketing promoting commodities harmful to health such as ultra-processed foods, tobacco, alcohol, and gambling are omnipresent 3 -7 and enhanced via home delivery platforms (e.g., Just Eat and Deliveroo).”

    From Associations between social media, adolescent mental health, and diet: A systematic review (2023) · cites this paper as [6]

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Authors
Thomas, S. L., Bestman, A., Pitt, H., Cassidy, R., McCarthy, S., Nyemcsok, C., Cowlishaw, S., & Daube, M.
Affiliations
  • Deakin University (AU)
  • University of London (GB)
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • Curtin University (AU)
Corresponding author
Thomas, Samantha L.
ORCID
Venue
Harm Reduction Journal
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2018-10-19
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
51-51
ISSN
1477-7517 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12954-018-0254-6
PMC
PMC6194705
OpenAlex
W2895924655
Cited by
82
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 1
FWCI
10.28
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Harm Reduction Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Goldsmiths (University of London) (acceptedVersion)
  • UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Explore Bristol Research (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Keywords
gambling advertising, youth gambling, advertising restrictions, social media advertising, television advertising, advertising recall, basketball fans, gambling regulation, youth
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Advertising, Attitude to Health, Awareness, Child, Female, Gambling, Humans, Male, Mental Recall, Socioeconomic Factors, Sports, Television, Time Factors, Victoria, Harm Reduction, Social Media

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