Grattan Institute Urges Australian Government to Tackle Record Gambling Losses

A recent study by the Australian think tank Grattan Institute calls on Australia’s government to take strong steps to reduce gambling-related problems pointing out that Australians lose more money per person on gambling than any other country. 

Pokies and Online Betting Drive Australia’s Highest Gambling Losses

The study called A Better Bet: How Australia Should Prevent Gambling Harm, shows that Australians lose about AUD1,635 ($1,101) each year on gambling, which is much more than people in countries like the United States ($544) and New Zealand ($393).

The report points out that pokies (slot machines) and online betting are the main causes of these huge losses. In fact, there are more pokies in Australian suburbs than public toilets, ATMs, and post boxes, with poorer communities suffering the most from gambling problems. Fairfield, for instance, is one of Sydney’s poorest areas where people lose about AUD3,967 ($2,672) each year on pokies — three times more than the state average.

The CEO of the Grattan Institute, Aruna Sathanapally, commented: 

“Australia has let the gambling industry run wild, and gamblers, their families, and the broader community are paying the price. Gambling products are designed to be addictive, and the consequences can be catastrophic: job loss, bankruptcy, relationship breakdown, family violence, even suicide. It is time our politicians stood up to the powerful gambling lobby and reined the industry in.”

Think Tank Proposes Gambling Ad Ban and Mandatory Loss Limits to Curb Gambling Harm

The report suggests a few changes to tackle gambling-related harm. One of its main ideas is to stop all gambling ads, which have taken off on the internet and during sports. These ads, which often try to appeal to young guys, are thought to play a big part in the growth of online betting.

Another big idea is to bring in required pre-commitment systems for online betting and pokies. These systems would make people set daily, and yearly loss limits before they start gambling. The goal is to work like a “seatbelt,” stopping players from losing too much money. The think tank suggests limits such as capping daily losses at AUD100 ($67), with monthly and yearly limits of AUD500 ($337) and AUD5,000 ($3,368).

The report also proposes cutting down the number of pokies in Australian states over time, a step that would affect communities hit hard by gambling.

Though the gambling industry has pushed back against these ideas saying they could put jobs, clubs, and local sports at risk, according to Sathanapally these worries are exaggerated. She asked federal and state governments to team up to put these suggestions into action saying they are crucial to make gambling safer for all Australians.

Previously, the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC), the Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR) represented by Tim Costello and the Greens have also urged the Australian government to ban advertising.