Problem Gambling

Editor: Justin Healey
ISBN 978 1 920801 49 6
Year 2006

Price: $20.95

  

Problem Gambling
Volume 239, Issues in Society

Australians wager over $130 billion a year, equivalent to almost $9,000 per adult. Our nation’s addiction to gambling is ever increasing, with losses equating to approximately 3.5% of average household disposable income. Most of the money is spent on gaming machines, or ‘pokies’, while expenditure on lotto, ‘scratchies’, and at casinos and TABs (horse racing) is also considerable. Gambling, or ‘gaming’ can be an enjoyable recreational activity for many adults, as well as being a substantial source of taxation revenue for governments, however, for some people gambling can become a problem. They believe that gambling can give them a source of income that will fix their financial problems or that gambling will help them to manage their personal, relationship or work problems. Gambling can seriously affect many aspects of an individual’s life. Gambling can also affect family members, friends and carers. This book provides an overview of gambling activities in Australia and focuses on gambling addiction and ways in which ‘compulsive’ or ‘problem’ gambling can be avoided or treated. When is a flutter one too many, and what can you do about it?

Chapter 1  Gambling in Australia
The Australian gambling market; Gambling in Australia; History of gambling in Australia; Household expenditure on gambling; Who gambles and why?; Gambling participation; Addiction to gambling tax: it's a losing bet; Proliferation of pokie palaces turns punters into paupers; Pokie players not just the battlers; Vilified pokies not the root of all evil; The characteristics of a responsible gambler.

Chapter 2  Problem Gambling
Why do people develop problems with gambling?; Harms from gambling; Consequences of problem gambling; So I gamble ... no problem!; Problem gambling signs and solutions; The cycle of problem gambling; 20 questions from Gamblers Anonymous; Hard facts on gambling odds; Pokies cause the most gambling problems; Picking a problem gambler pot luck: psychologists; Gaming machine myths and facts; Information about problem gambling; Problem gambling – advice for family and friends; When other people's gambling problems become yours Support for family and friends; How do you make sure the game doesn't play you?; What are my options?; Beat it yourself ...; Gambling and financial issues; About changing – recovering from problem gambling; How to prevent relapse.

Glossary; Facts and Figures; Additional Resources; Index



FAST FACTS from this volume
  • Real expenditure on gambling in Australia has increased from $9 billion in 1993-94 to $16.210 billion in 2003-04, an average annual increase of 8.01%.
  • Expenditure on gaming machines in Australian clubs and hotels has increased as a proportion of total gambling expenditure from 44.4% in 1993-94 to 58.89% in 2003-04.
  • In 2003-04, real per capita expenditure on gambling in Australia was $1066.95, compared to $436.26 in 1978-79. This represents an approximate increase in real expenditure per adult of 5.8% per year.
  • Gambling expenditure as a proportion of household disposable income has increased from 1.49% of HDI in 1978-79 to 3.12% in 2003-04. After rapidly increasing during the 1990s, it has remained relatively stable for the past few years.
  • 82% of Australian adults participated in a gambling activity in 1997-98. Specifically, 38.6% of adults participated in gaming machine play, while 24.3% bet on a horse or greyhound race. Lotteries had the highest participation rate of all gambling forms in Australia (60%) followed by instant scratch tickets (46.2%). Also popular were keno with 15.9% of adults participating, table games at casinos (10.3%) and betting on sporting events (6.3%).
  • Each person between 18 and 24 on average spends $345 on gambling a year, while those over 70 spend only $130.
  • A Productivity Commission report says 27% of the $4 billion collected in 2002-03 came from the 18-29 age group, while the 60-69s accounted for 10% and those over 70 only 6%.
  • The Productivity Commission predicts an overall budget shortfall for the state and federal governments of 7% of gross domestic product in 40 years, requiring an average rise in tax rates of 23% to bridge the gap.
  • Gambling accounts for 3.4% of the average weekly household budget, up from just over 2% 12 years ago. It has plateaued at 3.4% since 1998-99, suggesting any new forms of gambling will only cannabalise existing gaming revenue.
  • Gamblers lost a staggering $70.1 billion on gaming machines between 1993 and 2003. That compares with $19.1 billion during the previous decade.
  • According to 2002-03 national figures, more than $9 billion was lost to gaming machines. More than one-third ($3.6 billion) of that went directly into state treasury coffers.
  • Gaming machines in pubs and clubs (excluding casinos) make up an average of 80% of total state gambling revenue, dwarfing other forms of gambling, including horse racing, sports betting and lotteries. Western Australia is the only state where pubs and clubs remain pokie-free.
  • To have a 50% chance of winning the big prize on the gaming machine Black Rhinos, whilst betting one line per button press, it will take 6.7 million button presses; take 188 years or 391 days of continuous, 24-hour a day play; and cost $330,000.
  • 40% of Australians gamble at least once per week.
  • In 1997-98, the average gambling loss per Australian adult was $760.
  • Problem gamblers lose a total of $3.5 billion annually or, on average, $12,000 each.
  • 1 in 2 problem gamblers have borrowed money to fund their gambling.
  • 1/5th of the world's 'high intensity' electronic gaming machines are in Australia (this excludes 'amusement with prizes' machines and pinball-style machines).
  • Around 1/4 of problem gamblers receiving counselling say that gambling caused a relationship to break up.
  • It is estimated that there are around 1600 gambling-related divorces annually.
  • 1 in 10 gamblers undergoing counselling reported domestic or other violent incidents related to their gambling.
  • Around 1 in 5 severe problem gamblers are reported to be suffering from alcoholism or other dependencies.
  • 1 in 10 problem gamblers say they have contemplated suicide. It is estimated that there are between 35 and 60 suicides linked to gambling each year.
  • Although no demographic group is predisposed to problem gambling, the 18-25 year old age group is over-represented amongst problem gamblers.
  • The chances of: pulling an ace from a deck of cards – 1 in 13; your roulette number coming up – 1 in 37; winning a trifecta (13-horse race) – 1 in 1,716; winning Powerball – 1 in 54,979,155; winning Oz Lotto – 1 in 8,145,060; winning Lotto – 1 in 7,059,052; winning 6 from 36 Pools – 1 in 2,760,681; winning the $2 Lottery – 1 in 180,000; and winning the $5 Lottery – 1 in 140,00.
  • It is estimated there are about 300,000 problem gamblers in Australia. This is enough people to fill Stadium Australia at least three times. It is believed that for every 1 problem gambler, another 7 people are affected. It is believed around 2 million people in Australia are affected by the impact of problem gambling.
  • 40% of Australians gamble regularly. 2.1% of the adult population is estimated to have a significant gambling problem.