Experts Warn Underreported Gambling Harm Is Reaching Alarming Levels

Australia faces a growing gambling problem, and new studies hint that the real extent of gambling-related harm remains unknown. Even after years of government reviews and public concerns, experts claim authorities have not taken strong steps to limit the damage.

Rising Gambling Losses and Hidden Harms Highlight Need for Reform

A recent ABC Four Corners report has sparked new talks about gambling rules in the country. The show uncovered ongoing problems like conflicts of interest among regulators, industry sway over political choices, and the tight bonds between lawmakers and betting firms. Critics say this lack of separation has let gambling companies operate unchecked, often hurting vulnerable people.

Dr. Angela Rintoul, who works as a research fellow at the University of Melbourne, says people have underestimated how much harm gambling causes, including suicide. Her research shows that gambling played a part in at least 4% of suicides in Victoria from 2009 to 2016. She thinks the real number is much higher because not all cases get reported or looked into.

Australia still tops the list for gambling losses per person worldwide, with figures hitting about AUD 32 billion ($21 billion) in 2024. The Australian Gambling Research Centre’s National Gambling Prevalence Study shows that almost two-thirds of grown-ups placed bets last year. About 15% of these gamblers, over three million individuals, faced some kind of problem related to gambling. These issues spanned from feeling upset and broken relationships to financial troubles.

Lack of Limits on Pokies Drives Addiction and Social Harm

Pokies, or electronic gaming machines, continue to be the most harmful type of gambling. Over 15 years ago, the Productivity Commission suggested putting in place a required pre-commitment system to let players set limits on their spending. However, no state or territory has put this idea into action. Experts say this lack of action has allowed addiction to grow because people can use pokies without giving their names, and there is no way to track how much they have lost.

Health experts worry about the growing connection between gambling and wider social problems, including domestic abuse and mental health issues. Research indicates that one in five homes with a regular gambler faces intimate partner violence. Young adult men between 18 and 35, are more and more attracted to online sports betting, a trend boosted by intense ads on TV and digital channels.

Supporters now ask for tougher national supervision and a single well-funded overseer to take the place of the scattered system of state-based regulation. They also push for outlawing political gifts from gambling businesses and stricter rules on advertising. Experts caution that if the government keeps failing to act, the situation could get worse. Rintoul stressed that gambling-related harm is not just a social problem but a health crisis that needs fixing right away.