{
  "abstract": "Background Gambling is a global public health issue and young people are at significant risk of experiencing harm from gambling. In Australia, there has been a large focus on the impact of gambling marketing, particularly traditional forms of gambling advertising on television and sport. While there are some regulations relating to this type of advertising, there are still many other ways young people are exposed to and influenced by gambling marketing. Many regulations are implemented to protect young people; however, they are rarely consulted on these decisions. This study aimed to explore what young people think of Australia’s policy response to gambling, and if and how they would like to be engaged in public health responses to gambling.Methods This online focus group study was held with young Australians (n=64) aged 12–17 years from New South Wales and Victoria. Young people were asked to consider Australia’s current policies about gambling, particularly marketing, and what they thought should be done to address this. They were also asked if and how they thought young people should be involved in the development of public health responses to gambling. They were also asked, if they could say one thing about gambling marketing and young people to the prime minister what would it be? An interpretivist ‘Big Q’ approach to reflexive thematic analysis was used.Results Young people highlighted the need for regulations that reduce young people’s exposure to and influence of gambling marketing such as bans to advertising or restrictions on the content and placement of advertisements. Many young people were interested in being involved in decisions made about gambling. They thought that young people brought novel and unique perspectives that often were overlooked by adults. Young people wanted more accessible ways for young people to be involved in the decisions made about gambling, such as direct lines of communication with governments and involvement in research. Young people had clear and direct messages for the prime minister about the need for immediate action on gambling. They also thought he needed a greater understanding of the negative impact gambling was having on communities.Conclusion Young people are powerful advocates for their own health and wellbeing. Public health and governments should create formal structures that enable young people’s meaningful engagement in policy decisions about gambling. This would result in more innovative and potentially effective ways of preventing gambling harm.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Hannah Pitt"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Simone McCarthy"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Business and Law, School of Business, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Melanie Randle"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Grace Arnot"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Mike Daube"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Samantha Thomas"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P30 Addressing gambling marketing gambling: young Australians recommendations for public health policy",
  "uid": "d1ad571c-e695-5133-97b2-8db02c93ccc6"
}