How poker machines are hurting Australia
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A lot of Australians are at risk of being hurt financially and psychologically by poker machines, especially in states where they are easier to access.
In the state of Western Australia, the only place poker machines are allowed is in the casino, and it is proving to be the right move. According to experts, unlike in other states, problem gambling and gambling losses in WA are at the lowest levels.
Dr Angela Rintoul, a senior research fellow who specialises in public health at Federation University, explains that this proportionate scarcity of poker machines has made a real difference to the issue of problem gambling.
'Because poker machines are concentrated in just one venue in a casino in Perth, then people are not as exposed in Western Australia to… What is really the most harmful form of gambling that we've got in Australia,' Rintoul says.
The figures speak for themselves. In 2018-19, there were 2,400 gaming machines in the whole of WA – which works out to less than one for every 1,000 people. Comparatively, in the same year, there were more than 91,000 machines in NSW alone.
Not surprisingly, when you look at total per capita gambling expenditure in Western Australia, it is much lower than what is lost per capita on poker machines in NSW and has been this way for more than a decade.
Dr Rintoul continues to explain why poker machines are so much more dangerous than wagering and lotteries, which each make up a significant proportion of WA's per capita gambling expenditure.
'Unlike wagering or lotteries, poker machines are designed to create addiction. This machine is the perfect kind of money trap,' she says.
Unlike in some states, almost 50 per cent of the revenue for social clubs in Western Australia does not come from gambling because poker machines simply aren't an option.
It's clear that by banning these harmful machines from communities, the people of WA have been able to keep their gambling expenditure and problem gambling symptoms much lower than in the rest of the country.
Dr Markham from the Australian National University has some unpublished research that shows the rest of Australia has 1.6 times more gambling problems than Western Australia, according to a recent Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey.
He says it looks like the money that would be spent on poker machines in Western Australia isn't going to other types of gambling.
The research shows that there's not really a direct substitution between different types of gambling, which contradicts what some people have said about the cashless gaming card proposed in New South Wales.
The accessibility of poker machines in Australia is particularly concerning.
As mentioned above, over 91,000 poker machines are found in NSW alone, a number that is staggering when compared to the comparatively small 2,400 machines that are available in Western Australia.
This big difference in the number of machines shows how gambling can cause people to lose a lot of money since people are much more likely to become addicted when they have a lot of options.
It's also really disturbing that recent studies show that poker machines are mostly located in areas where people are struggling more. These communities are more likely to rely on gambling to try to make ends meet, but it just makes their problems worse.
To make matters even worse, the gambling industry knows that this is happening and they put machines in these areas on purpose because they know they can make more money, adding an extra layer of exploitation.
So, what can the rest of Australia learn from this?
Given these trends, it is of the utmost importance that Australia acts to curb the prevalence of poker machines and enact stricter regulations on the industry as a whole. Whilst Western Australia's decision to limit gaming machines to the casino has been a success, it is essential that the rest of the country follows suit in order to help those struggling, and prevent further losses.
Aside from limiting access to poker machines and other potentially-harmful forms of gambling across our communities, we also need to raise awareness about the potential damage these machines can cause.
We encourage all of our members to be very mindful of the amount of time and money they spend gambling and to be aware of the possible consequences of exposure to addictive gaming machines or other forms of harmful gambling.
Let's make sure we all stay safe and have a great time responsibly.
If you or someone you know may be suffering from gambling addiction, then please seek help and advice. Here are some places to go for information and support:
Credit: Alive Academy.
In the state of Western Australia, the only place poker machines are allowed is in the casino, and it is proving to be the right move. According to experts, unlike in other states, problem gambling and gambling losses in WA are at the lowest levels.
Dr Angela Rintoul, a senior research fellow who specialises in public health at Federation University, explains that this proportionate scarcity of poker machines has made a real difference to the issue of problem gambling.
'Because poker machines are concentrated in just one venue in a casino in Perth, then people are not as exposed in Western Australia to… What is really the most harmful form of gambling that we've got in Australia,' Rintoul says.
In Western Australia, the only place you can find poker machines is in casinos - this makes it the state with the least amount of money lost per person from gambling. Credit: Pexels/Darya Sannikova.
The figures speak for themselves. In 2018-19, there were 2,400 gaming machines in the whole of WA – which works out to less than one for every 1,000 people. Comparatively, in the same year, there were more than 91,000 machines in NSW alone.
Not surprisingly, when you look at total per capita gambling expenditure in Western Australia, it is much lower than what is lost per capita on poker machines in NSW and has been this way for more than a decade.
Dr Rintoul continues to explain why poker machines are so much more dangerous than wagering and lotteries, which each make up a significant proportion of WA's per capita gambling expenditure.
'Unlike wagering or lotteries, poker machines are designed to create addiction. This machine is the perfect kind of money trap,' she says.
Unlike in some states, almost 50 per cent of the revenue for social clubs in Western Australia does not come from gambling because poker machines simply aren't an option.
It's clear that by banning these harmful machines from communities, the people of WA have been able to keep their gambling expenditure and problem gambling symptoms much lower than in the rest of the country.
The experts are saying that the rest of Australia is reporting 1.6 times more gambling problems than Western Australia. Credit: Pexels/Pavel Danilyuk.
Dr Markham from the Australian National University has some unpublished research that shows the rest of Australia has 1.6 times more gambling problems than Western Australia, according to a recent Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey.
He says it looks like the money that would be spent on poker machines in Western Australia isn't going to other types of gambling.
The research shows that there's not really a direct substitution between different types of gambling, which contradicts what some people have said about the cashless gaming card proposed in New South Wales.
The accessibility of poker machines in Australia is particularly concerning.
As mentioned above, over 91,000 poker machines are found in NSW alone, a number that is staggering when compared to the comparatively small 2,400 machines that are available in Western Australia.
This big difference in the number of machines shows how gambling can cause people to lose a lot of money since people are much more likely to become addicted when they have a lot of options.
People in these struggling areas turn to gambling as a way to try and make some extra money, but it just digs them deeper into debt and makes their problems even worse. Credit: Pexels/cottonbro studio.
It's also really disturbing that recent studies show that poker machines are mostly located in areas where people are struggling more. These communities are more likely to rely on gambling to try to make ends meet, but it just makes their problems worse.
To make matters even worse, the gambling industry knows that this is happening and they put machines in these areas on purpose because they know they can make more money, adding an extra layer of exploitation.
So, what can the rest of Australia learn from this?
Given these trends, it is of the utmost importance that Australia acts to curb the prevalence of poker machines and enact stricter regulations on the industry as a whole. Whilst Western Australia's decision to limit gaming machines to the casino has been a success, it is essential that the rest of the country follows suit in order to help those struggling, and prevent further losses.
Aside from limiting access to poker machines and other potentially-harmful forms of gambling across our communities, we also need to raise awareness about the potential damage these machines can cause.
Let's make sure we all stay safe and have a great time responsibly.
If you or someone you know may be suffering from gambling addiction, then please seek help and advice. Here are some places to go for information and support:
- Gambling helpline at 1800 858 858 – free 24/7 chat, email and phone counselling and support services if gambling is affecting you or someone you care about.
- National Debt Hotline at 1800 007 007 (9:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday) - a free and confidential service offering resources, advice and referrals.
- Gamblers anonymous website
- Gambler's Help Youthline (under 25's) at 1800 262 376
- Help for Family and Friends
Credit: Alive Academy.
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