Health Promotion Strategies to Address Gambling-Related Harm in Indigenous Communities: A Review of Reviews

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/cgs29

Keywords:

gambling, addiction, Indigenous, health promotion, Aboriginal

Abstract

The evolution of commercial gambling and its expansion into digital arenas has increased opportunities for people all over the world—including Indigenous people—to gamble. While there is considerable evidence for the suitability of a health promotion approach to improving the health and well-being of Indigenous communities worldwide, the evidence-base does not extend to the field of gambling research. A systematic review of reviews was conducted to identify relevant reviews in crossover areas of interest: interventions to address gambling-related harm in Indigenous populations and/or health promotion interventions on related health or behavioural outcomes. The quality of reviews was critically assessed—13 fit the inclusion criteria. Principal themes were characterised as being either related to ‘cultural,’ ‘structural,’ or ‘methodological’ factors. Findings indicate that an appropriate model of health promotion to address Indigenous gambling would necessarily involve careful consideration of all three elements. Applying a health promotion approach to the context of Indigenous gambling harms is increasingly relevant considering recent conceptual shifts in key areas, but there is currently limited evidence to guide the implementation and evaluation of such strategies. This review highlights what published evidence is available to strengthen future research in this area.

Author Biographies

Megan Whitty, Australian National University

Megan Whitty is a post-doctoral fellow at the Centre for Gambling Research at the Australian National University. She holds a PhD in Public Health and completed her BA (Hons.) in Anthropology at the University of Melbourne. Research interests include the application of program evaluation and implementation science in public health settings, particularly in relation to health promotion, Indigenous health, and addiction research.

Helen Breen, Southern Cross University

Helen Breen is an Adjunct with the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts at Southern Cross University. Her research interests include adult tertiary education; hospitality and club management; the operations, economic, and social impacts of gaming; responsible gambling evaluation; impacts on staff working in gaming venues; Indigenous gambling, older people's use of clubs; and female gambling. 

Marisa Paterson, Australian National University

Marisa Paterson is the member of the ACT Legislative Assembly. Prior to being elected, Marisa was the Director of the Centre for Gambling Research at the Australian National University. Her specialist fields of expertise include gambling research, Anthropology, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy, qualitative research methods, and health promotion.

Kate Sollis, Australian National University

Kate Sollis is a Research Officer and PhD Candidate at the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods. Her background is in statistics and social policy, with a particular interest in the measurement of well-being.

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Published

2021-05-19

How to Cite

Whitty, M., Breen, H., Paterson, M., & Sollis, K. (2021). Health Promotion Strategies to Address Gambling-Related Harm in Indigenous Communities: A Review of Reviews. Critical Gambling Studies, 2(1), 39–54. https://doi.org/10.29173/cgs29