Andrew Barr has today launched the report of a study into problem gambling in this ACT.
“The Prevalence Study into Gambling and Problem Gambling in the ACT, by the Australian National University’s Centre for Gambling Research, is the most significant study of its kind to be conducted in the ACT since 2001,” Mr Barr said.
“The level of problem gambling in the Territory was measured as 0.5 percent of the adult population, which is about 1370 adults. This compares to 0.4 percent in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia and 0.7 percent in Victoria.
“The report found that 45 percent of people gambling weekly or more on activities other than scratch tickets and lotteries, had at least some symptoms of problem gambling and 5.6 percent were identified as problem gamblers.
“55 percent of those who played gaming machines weekly or more often were experiencing some symptoms of problem gambling and just under nine percent, or one in eleven, were classified as problem gamblers.”
The study found 70 percent of adults in the ACT had gambled at least once in the last 12 months. Thirty percent of adults (or 82,000 people) had played gaming machines in that period and 10 percent of gaming machine users played weekly or more.
So more than half the customers of the clubs’ pokie dens are experiencing “some symptoms of problem gambling”.
Minister Barr then proceeds to outline how self-identifying problem gamblers (by far the easiest to help) will get support and promises a reduction of 143 machines.
He then celebrates a slight drop in the gambling participation rate and a 21% reduction in gambling expenditure.
If that is reason to celebrate why does his party remain one of the largest operators of gaming machines in the ACT?
Loading ...
