Family and domestic violence and gambling harm

Abstract

Substantial evidence now shows that family and domestic violence (FDV) and gambling harm are strongly related in help-seeking as well as general populations. This suggests that gambling treatment services have a need for resources to help identify and address FDV, while conversely, FDV services would benefit from programs aimed at identifying and managing co-occurring problems with gambling. In addition, geographical areas that have more gambling opportunities also have higher rates of gambling participation and harm and may potentially have higher levels of FDV. Any geographic association between gambling behaviours and gambling-related FDV will have significant policy relevance. These literature signal a pressing need for multi-level strategies to address co-occurring gambling and violent behaviours, which may involve limiting exposures to hazardous gambling products, as well as resourcing support services to respond to the co-occurring gambling harm and FDV at the community level. The current study aims to address this clearly identified gap in policy and practice that may be relevant to sectors operating at the intersection of gambling harms and FDV.