Impacts of pokies in
Tasmania – who is affected?
-
At least 27,000 Tasmanians are addicted or in at-risk gambling groups.
People in these at-risk groups account for between 40 and 60 per cent of losses to pokies. This industry takes the majority of its profits from people who are addicted and in at-risk groups.
-
Government research estimates the annual costs to Tasmania of gambling harm to be $100m, 80 per cent of which is caused by poker machines.
-
Harm from poker machines comes at a cost to government services, Tasmanian businesses and the community.
-
Individuals and families harmed by poker machines need more assistance from state government and community services
such as health and mental health services, family support services, welfare services, housing and homelessness services and employment services as well as the criminal justice and family violence systems.
-
For every person harmed by pokies, there are 5 to 10 other people negatively affected,
including family members, friends, work mates, and employers.
-
One in three Tasmanians personally know someone with a serious problem gambling on pokies.
-
79 per cent of Tasmanian Gamblers Help clients have pokies as their main form of gambling.
While the impacts of sports betting and online gambling need to be watched, pokies are by far the most harmful form of gambling in Tasmania.
-
Poker machines have been concentrated in lower socio-economic areas.
Tasmanian Government surveys have found higher losses in these areas and more people experiencing moderate-risk and problem gambling.
-
Non-pokies businesses are also negatively affected.
Money spent on poker machines is money that is not spent elsewhere in the Tasmanian economy where it would create more jobs and economic value.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Should Tasmanian legislators act to reduce the impact of pokies in Tasmanian communities?
MORE INFORMATION:
Anglicare Tasmania submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ctee/Joint/Submissions/JSC%20FGM/JSC%20FGM%20135%20Anglicare%20Tasmania%20Inc.pdf
Peter Hoult, the chair of the TLGC from 2008-2016, submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry: https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ctee/Joint/Submissions/JSC%20FGM/JSC%20FGM%2088%20Peter%20Hoult%20a.pdf
Info sheet on
poker machine reform
1 of 4
Authorised by Meg Webb, Parliament House, Hobart.
Info sheet on
poker machine reform
Authorised by Meg Webb, Parliament House, Hobart.
1 of 4
