Who Is Charles Livingstone
Charles Livingstone is an Australian public-health researcher specialising in critical gambling studies. He is Associate Professor in the School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine at Monash University and Head of the Gambling & Social Determinants Unit. His research degrees span economics and social theory.
Livingstone’s core expertise centres on the structural characteristics, regulation, and social impacts of electronic gambling machines (EGMs) and broader gambling policy reform.
Path and Focus of Research
Since at least 2006 he has held an academic appointment at Monash University. He has initiated and overseen numerous research projects, for example validating a tool for assessing product-harm in gambling (Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation) and investigating the influence of gambling products in the UK.
His work has extended into submissions to government inquiries: for example his submission to the Australian House of Representatives’ inquiry into online gambling and its impacts. Through these activities, he engages both academic and policy-making domains.
Key Outcomes & Contributions
Livingstone has helped to clarify how gambling machines are designed and regulated, and how their design features feed into gambling harm. For instance, his publications include investigations of “losses disguised as wins” in EGMs and the broader “commercial determinants of health” in gambling. He also contributes to major global initiatives: he is a member of the World Health Organization Expert Group on Gambling and Gambling Disorder as well as the Lancet Public Health Commission on Gambling.
His research emphasises the wide reach of gambling harms — showing that for each high-risk gambler there are multiple others impacted, and that harm extends beyond the individual gambler into relationships, work/study performance, psychological health, and cultural contexts.
Themes & Style
Livingstone’s approach is analytical and policy-oriented rather than narrative journalism. His work combines empirical data, structural analysis, and policy critique. Key themes include:
- The structural design of gambling products (e.g., EGMs) and how those designs contribute to harm.
- Regulatory and political failures: how gambling regulation fails to keep pace with industry practices.
- The notion of “commercial determinants of health” — how industries (gambling, alcohol, tobacco) operate in ways that undermine public health.
- A shift away from simply seeing “problem gamblers” to viewing gambling harm as a broader social-system issue.
Why Charles Livingstone Matters
In the context of gambling regulation and public-health research in Australia and globally, Livingstone is one of the most authoritative voices. His combination of rigorous academic research, engagement with policy processes, and public-media contribution makes his work especially relevant for those interested in how gambling industries operate and how harm can be mitigated.
Because he focusses on systems, design, regulation and social harms — rather than simply individual pathology — his research helps shift the framing of gambling from a matter of individual choice to one of social responsibility and public policy. For stakeholders in health, regulation, social justice, and economics his work provides a solid evidence base.
| Year | Type of Work | Publication (Anchor Title) | Annotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Journal Article | The End of ‘Responsible Gambling’: Reinvigorating Gambling Studies | A critical reassessment of the “responsible gambling” paradigm, arguing that it obscures structural and industry-level drivers of gambling harm. |
| 2023 | Journal Article | Losses Disguised as Wins in Electronic Gambling Machines | Demonstrates how “losses disguised as wins” distort players’ perception of success and reinforce harmful gambling behaviour. |
| 2023 | Journal Article | Power and Commercial Determinants of Health | Examines how gambling, alcohol, and food industries leverage political and economic power to shape policy and public-health outcomes. |
| 2023 | Editorial | Gambling, Stigma, Suicidality, and the ‘Responsible Gambling’ Mantra | Discusses how the dominant “responsible gambling” narrative increases stigma, shame, and may contribute to suicide risk among affected individuals. |
| 2022 | Editorial | What Are Critical Gambling Studies? | Defines the core principles of Critical Gambling Studies as a field focused on power, industry practices, regulation, and social harm. |
| 2021 | Comment | Gambling-Related Suicidality: Stigma, Shame, and Neglect | A commentary in The Lancet Public Health highlighting the link between gambling harms, stigma, and suicide, and calling for policy attention. |
| 2020 | Journal Article | Moving On from Responsible Gambling: A New Public Health Discourse | Argues for replacing the “responsible gambling” discourse with a systems-focused approach centred on products, environments, and regulation. |
| 2019 | Commissioned Report | Identifying Effective Policy Interventions to Prevent Gambling Harm | A comprehensive policy review for the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation analysing which interventions effectively reduce gambling harm. |
| 2018 | Journal Article | Hooked on Gambling: A Problem of Human or Machine Design? | A landmark article in The Lancet Psychiatry exploring whether gambling addiction is primarily driven by human vulnerability or machine design. |
| 2001 | Journal Article | The Social Economy of Poker Machines Gambling in Victoria | A foundational study examining the socio-economic dynamics of poker machine gambling and its impact on Victorian communities. |
Professional Background and Roles
Monash University – School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine (Melbourne)
Charles Livingstone is an Associate Professor at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University.
He also leads the Gambling & Social Determinants Unit within the same school.
He has been affiliated with Monash University since at least 2006, teaching and supervising in areas such as public-health policy, social theory, and regulatory systems.
La Trobe University – Senior Researcher
Before joining Monash, Livingstone worked as a Senior Researcher at La Trobe University between approximately 2001 and 2006.
His work there centered on social policy, public health, and the early development of his gambling-related research career.
Australian Government – Ministerial Expert Advisory Group on Gambling
Between 2010 and 2012, Livingstone served as a member of the Australian Government’s Ministerial Expert Advisory Group on Gambling.
His role included providing evidence-based recommendations on gambling reform, regulation, and harm-minimisation policies.
International Organisations – WHO & Lancet Commissions
He is a member of the World Health Organization Expert Group on Gambling and Gambling Disorder, where he contributes to global policy standards and public-health frameworks.
He also serves on the Lancet Public Health Commission on Gambling, helping shape international discussions around gambling-related harm, regulation, and systemic risk.
Why Charles Livingstone Is Considered a Leading Figure in Australian Gambling Research
Australia’s Most Prominent Expert on Electronic Gambling Machines (EGMs)
Charles Livingstone is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most influential scholars on electronic gambling machines — a cornerstone of the country’s gambling sector.
His research exposes the specific structural features of EGMs — from reinforcement algorithms to audiovisual reward signals — that are engineered to sustain prolonged play and increase player losses.
By dissecting the mechanics behind these machines, Livingstone has helped shift Australia’s understanding of poker machines from a simple form of entertainment to a sophisticated system designed for high revenue extraction.
A Central Voice in Policy, Regulation, and National Debate
Livingstone’s work is regularly referenced in government reports, parliamentary inquiries, and public-health submissions.
Policy-makers frequently rely on his analyses when evaluating reforms or drafting legislation related to gambling harm.
Across media and public forums, he serves as a consistent, evidence-based voice — clarifying industry practices, challenging regulatory gaps, and advocating for reforms that prioritise public welfare over commercial interest.
This has made him one of the most trusted experts in the national policy landscape.
Reframing Gambling Harm as a System-Level Issue
Perhaps Livingstone’s most important contribution is his insistence on systemic causation.
Rather than attributing harm to an individual’s “lack of control,” his work demonstrates that gambling harm is produced through a combination of:
- product design,
- industry business models,
- weak regulatory frameworks,
- political lobbying and commercial influence.
This reorientation — from personal blame to system responsibility — has reshaped academic discourse, public-health strategy, and legislative discussions throughout Australia.
A Highly Cited Scholar Whose Work Shapes Multiple Disciplines
Livingstone’s publications are widely cited not only in gambling studies, but also in:
- sociology,
- public health,
- behavioural science,
- political economy.
His influential work on “losses disguised as wins” has become a foundational reference for understanding machine-based gambling harm.
His research on commercial determinants of health is frequently used to demonstrate how gambling companies operate in ways similar to other health-risk industries, such as alcohol and tobacco.
Prominent Public Intellectual in Media, Academia, and Health Advocacy
Beyond academia, Livingstone is a frequent contributor to national conversations.
He appears regularly in:
- public-health panel discussions,
- national and regional media interviews,
- policy roundtables,
- academic conferences focused on gambling and addiction.
This visibility — grounded in rigorous evidence — has positioned him as a leading public educator on the real mechanics and impacts of Australia’s gambling environment.
Recognised Internationally Through WHO and The Lancet
Livingstone’s expertise extends far beyond Australia.
His roles in the World Health Organization’s Expert Group on Gambling and Gambling Disorder and the Lancet Public Health Commission on Gambling highlight the global relevance of his research.
These positions are reserved for world-leading experts whose work shapes international standards on:
- harm prevention,
- public-health frameworks,
- gambling governance.
His influence helps guide global understanding of gambling harm as a public-health, regulatory, and human-rights issue — not merely a behavioural problem.
Charles Livingstone is not simply a researcher — he is one of the architects of modern gambling-harm analysis in Australia.
His work influences policies, academic frameworks, industry oversight, and global health debates, making him one of the most authoritative and respected voices in the field today.
