Media Release – $18 Million Pokies Losses in August
Meg Webb | Media Release | September 28, 2020
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said Tasmania recorded massive pokies losses of more than $18 million in August – $598,530 per day.
“Tragically, $18,554,436 pouring into machines is more than $18 million not going into struggling Tasmanian businesses,” Ms Webb said.
“More disturbingly, the losses continue at a significantly increased level since machines were switched back on – 20% higher than August last year.
“The regional breakdown shows areas with massive spikes in pokies losses compared to August last year – West Coast (32.8% increase), Central Coast (40.9% increase), Sorell (35.6% increase) and Northern Midlands (25.9% increase).”
Ms Webb said the massive losses come at a time of great personal and economic stress due to COVID-19.
“These kinds of stresses are known risk factors for developing pokies addiction. With losses up 20 per cent statewide, we know there must be an increased level of harm in the community.
“This will have an enduring effect as more Tasmanians develop a problem with pokies at this vulnerable time and carry that forward. We know under normal circumstances about half the money flowing into pokies is from people who have a gambling problem.
“With superannuation lump sums and increased Centrelink payments such as JobKeeper and JobSeeker in people’s pockets, those with a pokies gambling problem may be contributing much more than half the increased losses we are seeing now.”
Ms Webb said the legacy of newly-developed gambling problems will continue to harm Tasmanian families, businesses and communities.
“More than $40 million has been lost to poker machines in the first 67 days since they were switched back. That has delivered very little economic value to the State or struggling local businesses.
“At a time when many Tasmanian hospitality businesses – the vast majority of which are pokies free – are dreading losing the Federal Government Job Keeper support, these figures are especially devastating.
“The Gutwein Liberal Government provided no additional support to the Tasmanian community to prepare for switching pokies back on. The Government’s own research identifies pokies as most harmful form of gambling in Tasmania.
“I call on the Premier to explain to the Tasmanian people how his decision to switch poker machines back on fits with his Government’s constant claims that they have the health, safety and well-being of Tasmanians is their top priority.
“Where are the COVID-specific public education campaigns about the risks of gambling like we’ve seen around alcohol and other drugs?”
Ms Webb called on Government to fund a new, targeted, proactive outreach support program to connect with those who are newly gambling on poker machines or have resumed problematic gambling on poker machines and their families.
“The Government must commit to legislating evidence-based, expert recommended harm minimisation measures, including slower spin speeds, lower maximum bet limits, lower maximum jackpots and shorter opening hours.”
Poker Machine Losses
| Period | Total losses | Per day average | Increase in losses per day |
| August 2020 |
$18,554,436 | $598,530 | |
| February 2020 (29 days) |
$14,166,956 | $488,515 | 22.5% |
| August 2019 (31 days) |
$15,476,406 | $499,238 | 19.8% |
Figures by local government area
| Municipality | Aug 20 | Aug 19 | Increase |
| Combined Municipalities | $1,983,830.84 | $1,709,768.97 | 16% |
| Burnie | $681,442.96 | $652,684.46 | 4.4% |
| Central Coast | $752,322.54 | $534,129.89 | 40.9% |
| Clarence | $987,894.37 | $805,821.73 | 22.6% |
| Devonport | $1,091,362.43 | $920,144.49 | 18.6% |
| Dorset | $109,448.26 | $102,644.64 | 6.6% |
| Glenorchy | $2,158,122.21 | $1,739,290.68 | 24% |
| Hobart1 | $393,237.85 | $474,876.81 | 17.2% decrease |
| Launceston1 | $1,792,128.65 | $1,437,524.63 | 24.7% |
| Northern Midlands | $130,920.25 | $103,985.08 | 25.9% |
| Sorell | $336,500.21 | $248,199.24 | 35.6% |
| Waratah-Wynyard | $505,861.78 | $463,474.36 | 9.1% |
| West Coast | $182,505.52 | $137,439.87 | 32.8% |
| West Tamar | $198,532.70 | $189,336.35 | 4.9% |
| Total | $11,304,110.57 | $9,519,321.20 | 18.7% |
| Combined Casinos | $7,250,325.17 | $5,957,084.99 | 21.7% |
| Totals | $18,554,435.7 | $15,476,406.19 | 19.8% |
1 – Excludes casinos in these municipalities
https://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/liquor-and-gaming/legislation-and-data/gambling-industry-data/electronic-gaming-machine-expenditure-by-municipality
