For poorer: how men experience, understand and respond to problematic aspects of a partner's gambling

Gambling is now big business in Australia and public expenditure on gambling is high. Some individuals gamble to excess with adverse consequences for themselves and their partner. The present study targeted men who had concerns about a current or previous partner's gambling and employed a qualitative methodology to explore their experiences, understandings and responses. A range of recruitment strategies was used to attract a diverse group of participants. The final sample comprised thirteen men from different walks of life who had different attitudes and behaviours in regard to gambling. Data were gathered by means of in-depth interviews and subjected to thematic analysis. Findings from the study indicate that men are likely to be the victims and enablers of their partner's gambling and are also likely to provide informal help and care. Implications for community education programs, formal services and Australian law are discussed.