Media Release: Action needed to reduce problem gambling

Mission Australia, one of the nations leading community service charities, has called on the State and Federal Governments to swiftly implement the recommendations of the Productivity Commission's Report into Gambling released on Wednesday, to reduce the impact of problem gambling on Australians.

“Mission Australia sees the human face of problem gambling in our services every single day,” said Toby Hall, Mission Australia CEO.

“Problem gambling causes not only financial crisis and bankruptcy, it contributes to family and relationship breakdown, homelessness, depression and even suicide.

“We would like to see practical measures like $1 bet limits on poker machines and mandatory shutdown times in gaming venues quickly put in place. This will help reduce the number of people with a gambling problem and reduce the impact on those already struggling to cope with their addiction.

“We urge governments at all levels to implement the Productivity Commission recommendations to reduce problem gambling as soon as practically possible.”

Mr Hall welcomed the news that the federal government has indicated it will support further harm minimisation programs for poker machines, but said it was disappointing there has been no commitment or time frame to implement the recommendations.

With poker machines accounting for 75-80 percent of problem gamblers, the Commission was right focus on further restrictions on poker machines, Mr Hall said.

“Poker machines are far and away the most prolific form of gambling by the clients of our gambling counselling services,” said Mr Hall

“We can not tackle problem gambling without looking at further restrictions on poker machines.”

“According to the Commission’s own figures, around 40 percent of the revenue from poker machines comes directly from problem gamblers.

“We can not continue to base such a large chunk of a sector’s revenue on taking money from people with an addiction”.

Mr Hall said that the measures outlined in the report that should be quickly implemented include:

• Lowering bet limits on poker machines to one dollar per button push (equating to losses of around $120 an hour as opposed to the current level of up to $1500) as well as setting limits on how much can be put in a machine at any one time. 
• Mandatory shutdown times for gaming rooms in hotels and clubs, as there is ample evidence that this is when high-risk gamblers are more likely to gamble and they are also often likely to be under the influence of alcohol.
• Removing ATMs from gaming areas. This is regularly cited by problem gamblers as something which would assist them to manage their gambling as it forces them to take a time out and leave the area. This is already being put in place in some jurisdictions.
• Additional funding for further gambling counselling services and improved training and education for counsellors.

Media contact:  Patrick Flynn ph. 0407 411 256