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Does Australia have a pokies problem? That’s either a yes or a no, depending on who you ask and where you look. In WA, where poker machines aren’t allowed, you’ll be met with a quizzical look and be told to ask ‘those over East.’ In the wealthiest suburbs of Sydney you’ll hear a laugh and the answer ‘maybe on a night out.’ However, if you dive a little deeper, you might just find something else.
Over in Melbourne, if you head out to Kealba, you can find a sports pub with no less than 86 pokies machines lining the games room alongside their bistro, beer garden, and children’s playground. But it’s also one of the least wealthy local areas in the state and the venue at which people have lost the most money overall in Victoria. In 2021, the venue took in almost $20.5m in gambling losses, a truly staggering amount. In Sydney, if you want to smoke a cigarette in a licensed venue, you’ll have to sit in the pokies room, which can draw you into gambling activities. In Murray River in NSW, there was a grand total of $4885 per capita spending on gambling machines for the year, and that doesn’t even count casino spend. Within the state, there are over 92,000 poker machines.
Australia is a nation of gamblers
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2018, around 7.2% of the Australian population was at risk of experiencing gambling-related problems. Considering that around 35% of the population gambled at least once a month, this means that no less than one in four gamblers were at risk. Anti-gambling bodies in Australia also estimate that around 40% of losses at the pokies come from gamblers who are already at risk of harm.
In 2022, more than one in ten Australians bet online within the past six months. This is a figure that’s on the rise, thanks to the proliferation of, and easy to online gambling sites and services from within the country. Whether it’s pokies in pubs or casinos, having a bet on the horses or the doggies at the track or at the TAB, or heading online to play the slots or have a bet on the AFL match of the minute, Aussies are a nation of gamblers.
Why are there so many pokies?
Australian state governments have found themselves in a catch 22 when it comes to pokies within their states. While there is plenty of evidence of harm, particularly among vulnerable populations, there is also a considerable motivator to keep these pokies ticking over.
In NSW in 2022, it was expected that the state would bring in $3.26 billion in taxes from gambling activities. These funds, of course, flow back to the public through works projects, injecting money into the state and its people. But at what cost?
What’s being done at a government level?
There have been numerous stops and starts in gambling reform over the past 10 or so years, beginning with a 2010 Productivity Commission report, and more recently a series of reforms that were made as suggestions in a 2015 online gambling review under the coalition. While investigations into Crown Casino’s operations across the country and reaching abroad have been newsworthy events, the casinos are isolated players in the pokies game.
Thanks to the overlapping roles and responsibilities of federal and state governments in the governing of gambling activities, this can make change in the industry slow, or stalled altogether. And in an environment where online gambling is rapidly changing, this can be particularly alarming for anti-gambling groups.
Playing online pokies at the best casino for real money in Australia is more common than one may think. Not only is this game easily accessible, but it also requires no skill to be played. Hence the national concern. With gambling addiction on the rise, it has never been so important to raise awareness.
Projects to help overcome addiction
Because of the national concern over problem gambling, particularly on the pokies, there are plenty of organizations and groups that exist to help those at risk.
Australians will be familiar with nationwide provider Relationships Australia, which exists to help promote positive mental health and relationships across the country.
Gambling Help Online is a support service that is run to help anyone who is affected by gambling, as a trusted, confidential friend who is available to chat 24/7.
The Hope Project is an educational service run by a former gambling addict, that helps organizations to provide support to those most in need within their communities.
The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation is a state service provided in Victoria to help support people affected by gambling harm.
Author’s Bio:
Chief Editor Chloe Wilson is someone who likes keeping herself informed about important issues – be they local or international. Her previous work experience as a slot machine manager on a cruise liner involved meeting people from all walks of life, varied cultures, and of course, colorful stories. As a storyteller herself, she takes interest in writing pieces that are as captivating as they are informative. When she’s not editing content for the site she manages, she’s brainstorming new ideas for her next blog post.