Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm Parliament of Australia

And in NSW – the state with almost as many pokies as the rest of the country combined – the most recent state election was fought at least in part on pokies reforms. While the policies being debated were more focused on money laundering risks than gambling harm, both major parties brought policies to the table. Regulators should be wary that setting limits on how much people can lose while gambling creates an incentive for the industry to more aggressively try to increase its customer base.

And a flood of advertising, even in the most obviously inappropriate places,6 continually prompts us to gamble. People who gamble, their families, and the broader community pay the price in their finances, health, and wellbeing. In parallel, the federal government should investigate the feasibility of a universal pre-commitment system with maximum loss limits. Australian gambling statistics is a comprehensive set of statistics related to gambling in Australia covering the entire range of legalised Australian gambling products. The publication has been produced since 1984 and is compiled annually by the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office in co-operation with all Australian state and territory governments.

Inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on problem gamblers

The gambling industry will push back on these reforms by denying the problems and stoking community fears. But this report shows that their trumped-up claims don’t withstand scrutiny. Federal and state governments should brave the vested interests and work together in the interests of all Australians to make gambling a safer, better bet. But the ethics, economics, and fairness of gambling taxes are becoming a critical issue as ‘the global economy’ challenges the sovereignty of governments.

Casino Licence – New South Wales

Meanwhile, online betting has surged, particularly among young men, spurred by a barrage of gambling advertising. But if they did, they would imply that some Australians must suffer immense harm so that others can pay a little less for sport, or punt a little more seamlessly. Governments should call out the industry’s self-interest, and not be tempted to ‘buy off’ vested interests (Box 7).

The federal government should ban all gambling advertising and inducements. That would go a long way to reducing Australians’ excessive exposure to gambling. Pokies and online betting are particularly addictive and harmful, leading to serious harm for hundreds of thousands of Australians. There are various types of online games that a person may wish to conduct in Queensland. If you do not believe your proposed game fits within one of the categories below, you may wish to apply for an interactive gambling licence.

The Committee adopted an inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on problem gamblers on 15 September 2022, following a referral from the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP. The federal election represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to implement all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report, including a ban on gambling advertising. Pre-commitment for pokies would be a small, one-off hassle – like signing up for a library card or public transport card.255 For online gamblers, who must already prove their identity to create an account,256 it should add little to the sign-up process. Industry lobbyists claim that restricting or banning gambling ads would jeopardise the financial viability of sport, or the free-to-air TV industry. But these industries have adapted to advertising bans in the past, and would do so again. NSW has a particularly big job, with a lot more gaming machines than any other state (see Figure 3.3), and the majority requiring an upgrade or retrofit to enable limit setting.

• They allowed outsiders to run private gambling operations within the confines of their casinos.
• This top 5 per cent spend 10 times as much as the bottom 80 per cent combined.
• The Alliance for Gambling Reform acknowledges we are living and working on Aboriginal land.
• Mandatory pre-commitment with upper limits on losses could provide that safety net (see Chapter 3).
• For those who choose to gamble, mandatory pre-commitment with maximum loss limits would ensure they no longer lose more than they can afford.
• All gambling providers should familiarise themselves with the contents of these codes and advise and instruct all relevant gaming staff.

Many past attempts to strengthen consumer protections for gambling have been thwarted by vested interests, so gambling reform is now considered very politically risky. Showed how effective the gambling industry is in influencing Australian politics, punching well above its weight. Organised attempts to influence policy can create windfall gains for a few, at the expense of the many. We also need a ‘seatbelt’ for the most dangerous gambling products, to stop catastrophic losses when people lose control. Australia must get serious about preventing gambling harm and implement a package of reforms to make gambling less pervasive and safer.

The ever-narrowing range of revenue options has left state governments with little choice but to conform with nearby jurisdictions pursuing expansionary gambling policies. The industry contends that stronger regulation would push gamblers towards illegal gambling websites,259 which lack consumer protection measures.260 But the risk of illegal gambling is small compared with the known harm of the current environment. The federal government should assemble a National Taskforce and consider financial and other incentives to bring everyone to the table.

Past reform efforts uptown pokies $50 no deposit bonus have been killed by highly organised, well-funded industry campaigns. Our average annual losses per adult ($1,635) far exceed the average in similar countries such as the US ($809) and New Zealand ($584) (Figure 1.1). Governments should also improve support services to help those suffering harm now. To find out how to apply for an interactive gambling key person licence, as part of a licence application, contact OLGR. Find information on upcoming VGCCC hearings, including gaming machine applications, disciplinary actions, and casino exclusion appeals.

We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and pay respect to Aboriginal Elders past, present and emerging. Donate to support independent, rigorous, and practical policy research in Australia. Sign up for our latest report releases and our newsletter straight to your inbox. Clubs and hotels also argue that tighter pokies restrictions would imperil jobs. Governments have a responsibility to act in the public interest, even when it is politically challenging. For more information about terms used throughout the publication and the data tables please refer to the explanatory notes.