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The moratorium
• The Senate Committee found that the regulatory
models for online gambling do not go far enough
in
protecting consumers. Pending the implementation
of improved harm-minimisation policies we
therefore
recommend a pause or moratorium on the expansion
of online gambling.
Problem Gambling
• In Netbets, the Committee considered in detail
the
issue of problem gambling.
6
• The Productivity Commission estimates that
approximately 130 000 Australians have severe
problems with their gambling. A further 160 000
adults
are estimated to have moderate problems, which
may not require treatment but warrant policy
concern. Taken together, problem gamblers
represent 290 000 people, or 2.1 per cent of
Australian
adults.
• Problem gamblers comprise 15 per cent of
regular
(non-lottery) gamblers and account for about
$3.5
billion in expenditure annually – about
one-third of
the gambling industries’ market. They lose on
average around $12 000 each per year, compared
with just under $650 for other gamblers.
• The negative impacts of problem gambling are
compounded by the fact that problem gamblers in
turn affect 5 to 10 other people.
• In fact figures released this week show that
Australians are losing more money than ever
through
gambling. Last financial year a record $12.4
billion,
or $886 per adult, was lost and gambling
turnover
topped the $100 billion mark for the first time.
This is
an incredible figure when one considers that the
total tax revenue raised by the Commonwealth
government was $149 billion during the same
period.
• Gamblers in New South Wales were the worst
affected in Australia, losing nearly $5.1
billion or
$1,067 a head. Western Australia, the only state
which bans gambling in clubs and pubs, were
easily
the least affected losing $646 million or nearly
$478 a
head.
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