Beliefs and knowledge about gambling amongst high-intensity players of gaming machines

Previous research has demonstrated that a large proportion of people with gambling problems do not seek help, and help-seeking is often a last resort after experiencing significant negative consequences (e.g. Davidson and Rodgers, 2010, Productivity Commission, 2010). Research has also highlighted a lack of self-identification of problems, lack of knowledge of available services, stigma and shame as reasons underlying why people do not seek help, or do not seek help until problems are extreme (e.g. Carrollet al., 2011). However, there has been no previous research investigating knowledge and beliefs about the signs and symptoms of problem gambling amongst people who gamble, and little research describing attitudes towards people with gambling problems.