TASMANIANS admit to gambling away more than $500 a year on average, with the biggest spend on lottery tickets and poker machines, a study has found.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A study on the social and economic costs of gambling showed the average self-reported spend on gambling fell from $641 in 2011 to $536 in 2013.
The spend per gambler was substantially higher at $927 a year, but still fell from the 2011 level of $1054 a year.
However, the study, tabled in Parliament yesterday, noted that self-reported spending on pokies is significantly understated.
The state’s poor economic conditions were likely responsible for the fall in gambling losses since 2008-09, the study says.
The study says growth in online gambling, which is not included in the study, also played a role in the figures.
The study found that there had been no significant change in the estimated number of problem or ‘‘moderate risk’’ gamblers.
Denison independent MHR Andrew Wilkie said the study showed that governments needed to pursue mandatory pre-commitment technology for poker machines.
‘‘State governments remain the biggest pokies addicts of all,’’ he said.
‘‘Let’s not forget what all this means – thousands of Tasmanians are problem gamblers and this is destroying individuals and families.’’
Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the government was committed to tackling problem gambling, and looked forward to the second part of the study, which will detail the effectiveness of the government’s approach.
AT A GLANCE
●The average Tasmanian spends $536 a year on gambling, compared with $641 in 2011.
●The average gambler loses $927 a year, compared with $1054 in 2011.
●No significant change in the the number of problem or moderate risk gamblers.