Researcher calls for more data on gambling-related suicides
A researcher urges better data collection on gambling-related suicides, citing a lack of visibility and potential for preventative measures.Summary
Federation University researcher Angela Rintoul is advocating for a centralized data system to track gambling transactions and better identify gambling-related suicides. Currently, gambling addiction isn't routinely recorded during death investigations, leading to an underestimation of its impact. Approximately 4% of suicides in Victoria between 2009 and 2016 were linked to gambling, but the actual number is likely higher. Rintoul argues that improved data collection would allow platforms to meet their duty of care, implement cross-platform loss limits, and potentially hold them accountable. Paul Fung, a recovering gambling addict and co-founder of Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts (GHLEE), echoes this call, highlighting the devastating impact of gambling and the frustration with stalled government reform despite recommendations from the Murphy report.
(Source：ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation))