The influence of gaming expenditure on crime rates in South Australia: a local area empirical investigation

J Gambl Stud. 2008 Mar;24(1):1-12. doi: 10.1007/s10899-007-9070-8. Epub 2007 Jul 24.

Abstract

Although there has been much speculation about the possible links between gambling and crime rates, relevant quantitative evidence has been practically non-existent in Australia to date. This paper reports the results of research that utilised a model designed to investigate the potential relationship between electronic gaming machine expenditures and property (income-generating) crime rates reported to police in local areas in South Australia in 2002-2003. The research found that the higher the expenditures on gaming machines in a particular local area per adult, the higher the income-generating crime rate in that area. No such relationship was found between gaming machine expenditure and non-income-generating crime rates. However, further research is required before any policy-relevant conclusions can be drawn.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Behavior, Addictive / economics*
  • Behavior, Addictive / epidemiology*
  • Crime / economics*
  • Crime / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Gambling
  • Humans
  • Income
  • Male
  • Regression Analysis
  • South Australia / epidemiology
  • Video Games / economics*
  • Video Games / statistics & numerical data*