“Higher risk of problem gambling for construction workers compared with the general population.”

New research conducted by Foundation House – The Construction Industry Drug & Alcohol Foundation, has uncovered an alarming rate of gambling among construction workers. The research found that problematic gambling behaviour is widespread among construction workers:

• About two in five (43%) fall into the high-risk category
• One in five (20%) are in the moderate-risk category
• Workers aged 18 to 39 are most likely to be in the high-risk category, with one in two affected (both 52%).

Dangers of Gambling

Gambling is considered dangerous because:

• It is highly addictive
• It is designed to make the gambler lose and favour the house winning
• Can severely impact a person’s finances, mental health, and relationships.

Repeated gambling has been found to cause fundamental changes to the brain’s reward, prioritisation and stress systems, much like a drug^2,3. A chemical called dopamine is released into the brain when a person experiences any kind of pleasure. Sometimes, activities like gambling cause a very high surge of dopamine in the brain very quickly, creating abnormally high levels of pleasure. The brain links this feeling to the action of gambling.

If the brain is frequently flooded with high levels of dopamine, it can develop a tolerance to the chemical. Just like with substance abuse, an individual needs to gamble with higher stakes or more frequently to achieve the same “thrill”. People with the disorder can also experience withdrawal that causes irritability when they try to quit.

The impacts of gambling addiction

A 2023 parliamentary inquiry into online gambling (widely referred to as “The Murphy Report”) found that Australians spend the most in the world, per capita, on legal forms of gambling, losing $25 billion every year. Australians also lose the most money to online gambling, per capita, in the world.

 

Australians spend the spend the most in the world on gambling, losing $25 billion every year

There is also a substantial human cost of gambling addiction in Australia. Tragically, gambling is associated with an approximately four times higher risk of suicide². Almost one in five people presenting with suicidality also experience harm from gambling. During the Murphy Report Parliamentary enquiry, many individuals have shared their experiences about how online gambling has negatively impacted their own and others’ lives. This situation is even more alarming when it is widely recognised that “Australia’s online gambling market is increasing and so is the potential for harm”².

Factors leading to problem gambling

The Foundation House research indicated that the issue of problematic gambling among constructions workers is increased by the complex interplay of the following factors:

Work-associated stress

Construction workers in Australia routinely experience long working hours, irregular employment conditions, job insecurity as well as significant physical and mental demands. These pressures lead to fatigue, stress and loneliness, which increases the likelihood of workers turning to gambling as a coping mechanism.

 

Social culture in the Australian construction industry

It was found that higher levels of social engagement with workmates are associated with higher-risk gambling behaviour. This implies that gambling often functions as a social activity for workers or makes up part of their social engagements.

For many workers, gambling serves as a way to socialise

The Murphy Report found that online gambling has been deliberately and strategically marketed alongside sport, which has normalised it as a fun, harmless, and sociable activity that is part of a favourite pastime. There is concern that many young Australians view gambling and sport as inseparably linked.

Easy access to gambling platforms

Online gambling products can cause significant harm to individuals within a short amount of time, because they are easily accessible, allowing gamblers to place a bet on events and sports from their mobile phones, at any time of the day.

Managing gambling as a workplace issue

Employers need to be aware that problem gambling among construction workers is a significant health and safety issue. Construction workers are disproportionately affected, with research suggesting they are more than twice as likely than workers in other industries to experience problem gambling.

Gambling addiction can have serious consequences, affecting not only the individual but also those around them. In construction settings, gambling addiction can potentially affect the safety of others in the workplace when the workers’ minds are distracted whilst performing high risk construction activities.

Employers must act early to stop problem gambling from escalating into a workplace issue. Communication and initiatives to raise awareness of gambling harm can help to drive change in gambling behaviour. Other initiatives should be put in place to address workers’ main stressors, such as workload, work pressure, and challenging conditions. Looking after the well-being of employees is not only the right thing to do, but it  is also a practical investment that reduces risks and supports long‑term organisational success.

 

 

References

1. Denjkina, A., Kleine, N., Baganz, E., Kalliris, A., 2025, “Gambling in the Australian Construction Industry – 2025 Research Report”, Foundation House – The Construction Industry Drug & Alcohol Foundation.
2. Parliament of Australia, 2023, “You Win Some, You Lose More – Online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm”, House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs.
3. Victorian Responsible Gaming Foundation, 2024, “Gambling and the brain”, https://responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au/, accessed on 11^th June 2026.