Professor Sally Gainsbury
Research Fellow
The University of Sydney
Fergus Lyon’s PhD project examines the role of financial literacy in reducing harm among young Australians who gamble online. Financial literacy refers to the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviours that enable effective financial decision-making. Emerging evidence indicates a link between financial literacy and gambling behaviour. However, it remains unclear if financial literacy functions as a protective factor or, conversely, how lower financial literacy might increase the risk of harm among young online gambling consumers.
The project examines whether financial literacy is associated with gambling behaviour, shapes responses to harm-minimisation strategies, and how it may function as a protective factor against gambling-related harm. The project has several components. First, it aims to identify behavioural differences among young online gambling consumers and understand their preferences for harm minimisation communication. Second, it will evaluate whether financial literacy influences engagement with, and responses to, financially framed harm minimisation resources. This research will generate evidence on the role that financial literacy plays in enhancing harm minimisation strategies for young people who gamble online, with implications for harm reduction research, intervention development, and policy approaches.
