Fifth Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania 2021
Executive Summary
Volume 1 Results from Fifth SEIS: Industry Trends and Impacts
Benefits and Costs to Calculate the Net Benefits of Gambling
● The social benefits of gambling include recreation, entertainment and taxes raised for the benefit of the community. Gambling also causes harm or social costs to the individual, to others and the broader community.
● The net benefits of gambling require that the social costs are deducted from the social benefits.
● Gambling in Tasmania delivers benefits of between $123.3 million and $207.8 million. The offsetting impacts or social costs are estimated to be in the range of $48.9 million to $159.6 million. Deducting the costs from the benefits implies that the net benefit of gambling in Tasmania is between minus $36.3 million and $158.9 million.
● As the most plausible range is positive, it is highly likely that gambling delivers a net benefit for the Tasmanian community.
● The range of net benefit in this study indicates the benefits have increased in weight when compared to the first SEIS, largely reflecting a reduction in the prevalence of problem gambling since the 2008 study. Converting to 2020/21 values using the change in the CPI since 2007/08 the estimates from the first SEIS were of net benefits ranging from minus $80 million to plus $97 million.
Economic Impacts Assessment
● Over the last decade, taxes on gambling activities paid to the Tasmanian Government have on average raised $89-$99 million each year. Some 55 per cent has come from taxes on electronic gaming machines (EGMs), 34 per cent from taxes on lotteries, 4 per cent from taxes on casinos and the remainder from taxes on racing and other gambling.
● The largest sources of gambling receipts in 2019-20 were lotteries (44 per cent of total receipts), EGMs (39 per cent), split between hotels and clubs (25 per cent), and casinos (15 per cent).
● The point of consumption wagering tax (introduced from 1 January 2020) raised $5.99 million in the first six months of 2020, eclipsing other minor revenue sources such as casino table gaming, keno gaming, hotel and club fees, and minor gaming fees.
● The Tasmanian Government collects less by way of revenue from taxes on gambling activities – both per head of population and as a proportion of gross state product – than any other jurisdiction. This is consistent with Tasmanians spending less per head, and as a proportion of their incomes, on gambling activities. Employment and Tourism
● Total gambling related employment in 2020 was estimated at 1,218 Full Time Equivalents (FTE) based on actual data and estimates of staff time allocated to conducting gambling activities provided by hotels and clubs, and all other sectors of the gambling industry (casinos, racing and wagering, etc.).
● Estimated gambling related employment (1,218 FTEs) was equivalent to 0.6 per cent of total full-time employment in Tasmania in 2020 (198,500 FTEs).
● It is estimated that there are 440 FTEs in hotels and clubs associated with providing EGM services (N=234), Keno (N=49), race wagering (N=113) and network technician and general support (N=44).
● Total gambling expenditure by tourists was estimated at $12 million in 2018-19, which is equivalent to about 4 per cent of total gambling expenditure in the state.
● Gambling plays only a minor role in tourism expenditure activity. Spending by tourists may account for 1.5 to 4 per cent of total gambling expenditure in Tasmania (i.e. $4.5m to $12m).
Tasmanian Gambling Industry Structure, Characteristics and Trends
● The gambling industry is a mature industry, similar to other states, offering a range of gambling products including casino table gaming, EGMs, keno, lotteries, race wagering and sports betting and minor gaming activities.
● Unlike in other states, the industry is monopolised by a private company holding the public gaming licence under a deed of arrangement until 2023. This includes ownership, access and the monitoring of EGMs and the sole provider and operator of keno in hotels, clubs and the casino. There have been limited restrictions imposed on the company from purchasing hotels with EGMs. As the owner of the EGMs, it has a role in assessing the commercial viability of an application to operate machines in a venue.
● Tasmania, in comparison with the Australian average (per 1,000 adults), has a:
• lower density of EGMs at 8.6 machines per 1,000 adults; Australia 10.1;
• lower prevalence of EGMs in clubs at 0.3; Australia 5.8;
• higher density of EGMs in hotels at 5.4: Australia 3.6; and a
• higher proportion of EGMs in casinos at 34 per cent; Australia 7 per cent.
Participation Rates
● There has been a steady decline in gambling participation rates in Tasmania over the last 10-15 years from a participation rate of 72 per cent in 2008 to 59 per cent in 2017 and to 47 per cent in the prevalence survey (2020) (see Volume 2 report).
● The level of gambling expenditure peaked in 2008-09 and it has fallen steadily in the five years to 2018-19.
● The most popular form of gambling in terms of participation by adults was buying lottery tickets in person or online (37 per cent). The next most common types of gambling were playing keno at a club, hotel or casino (17 per cent), buying instant scratches (11 per cent), and playing EGMs (9 per cent).
Total Gambling
● The level of expenditure per adult on gambling has generally fallen over the past 20 years after reaching a peak around 2009 ($1,250 in 2008-09).
● In 2018-19 Tasmanian gamblers spent $310 million. Based on people aged 18 years or over, this was equivalent to $733 per person, the second-lowest of any state or territory. It was $544 per head or 43 per cent below the national average of $1,277 per head.
● As a percentage of household disposable income, Tasmania’s gambling expenditure is equivalent to 1.3 per cent, the third-lowest in Australia and 0.8 percentage points below the national average of 2.1 per cent. Although these figures for Tasmania may be relatively low by Australian standards, they are high by international standards (see Figure 4.3).
Electronic Gaming Machines
● EGM spending since the Fourth SEIS (2017) fell by 15 per cent between 2015-16 and 2018-19, from $204 million to $174 million. EGMs in casinos fell by 17 per cent and those located in hotels and clubs fell by 13 per cent.
● Real per adult EGM expenditure after peaking at $851 per adult in 2003-04, has steadily fallen, reaching $415 per adult in 2018-19. With the COVID-19 related temporary venue closures, spending fell further to an average of $307 per adult in 2019-20.
● Tasmanian expenditure on EGMs in hotels and clubs stood at $257 per adult, well behind the next highest level of $500 per adult for South Australia. New South Wales had the highest average expenditure at $1,035 per adult.
● There is a clear inverse correlation between socio-economic status (as measured by the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD)1 and per adult expenditure on EGMs across Tasmanian local government areas (LGAs). The available evidence supports the view that spending on gambling through EGMs tends to be higher in regions with lower levels of economic and social resources than in more advantaged areas.
● There is an even stronger inverse correlation between median household net worth and per capita spending on EGMs. A clear positive correlation exists between per capita spending on EGMs and the proportion of LGA populations whose highest educational qualification is less than Year 12.
● Sixty per cent of hotel and club EGMs are located in the 13 most socio-economically disadvantaged LGAs which contain just under 44 per cent of Tasmania’s 20-and-over population.
● Notwithstanding the above, Tasmania has the lowest level of expenditure on EGMs per adult. Compared to other states, Tasmania has tougher restrictions on access to cash withdrawals at gaming venues; it is one of only two jurisdictions to prohibit ATMs in hotels and clubs with EGMs; it is one of only two to impose a limit on cash withdrawals at ATMs in casinos; one of only two to impose a limit on EFTPOS withdrawals at hotels and clubs with EGMs; and Tasmania is the only state with a ban on note acceptors in hotels and clubs.
Race Wagering
● Total expenditure on gambling services offered by race wagering operators located in Tasmania amounted to $40 million in 2018-19. Almost all of this expenditure (98 per cent) was channelled through the TAB.
● Tasmania had a relatively lower level of race wagering expenditure compared to the rest of Australia at $96 per adult versus $103 per adult (2018-19). Per adult race wagering expenditure in Tasmania was higher than in Victoria at $87 per adult, Queensland $84 per adult and South Australia $77 per adult.
● The point of consumption wagering tax from 1 January 2020 provides insight into spending by Tasmanians with interstate providers. Expenditure data indicates that interstate wagering by Tasmanians is quite substantial. In the six months to June 2020 Tasmanians spent almost $41 million with out of state wagering providers.
Lotteries
● Per adult expenditure on lotteries in most jurisdictions has remained fairly constant with slight fluctuations over time. Tasmania has consistently maintained one of the lowest levels of per adult spend on lotteries among Australian jurisdictions.
● Real lottery expenditure was $53 million in 2018-19. Since the last SEIS (2017) real lottery expenditure has risen by 22 per cent.
● Per adult lottery expenditure in Tasmania was $109 in 2018-19, well below the national average of $132 per adult.
Keno
● Aggregate expenditure on keno measured in real terms has been quite stable over the past decade, fluctuating between $35 million and $37 million per annum.
● Tasmanian keno expenditure is relatively high. Real expenditure for hotels and clubs on a per adult basis in 2018-19 was $79, some 45 per cent higher than the next highest jurisdiction, the Northern Territory ($55).
● Of total keno expenditure in Tasmania in 2018-19, 92 per cent ($33.5 million) was spent in hotels and clubs, while 7.7 per cent ($2.8 million) was spent in casinos.
1 For a more detailed explanation of the Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) see ABS (2018a).
Casino
● Tasmania’s relative level of real casino expenditure in 2018-19 ($194 per adult) was 22 per cent below the national average of $248 per adult.
● Spending on casino gambling in Tasmania has been in decline. Since 2008-09 total expenditure fell by 43 per cent in real terms to $81.5 million by 2018-19. This decline was largely driven by a fall in spending on EGMs (down 46 per cent).
● Measured by expenditure, EGMs are the largest form of gambling undertaken in the casinos (84 per cent of casino expenditure in 2018-19), followed by table games (13 per cent) and keno (3.4 per cent).
● As a consequence of the downward shift in aggregate casino expenditure, per adult expenditure for Tasmania has declined from $360 in 2008-09 to $194 in 2018-19.
Sports betting
● Expenditure on sports betting with the Tasmanian licensed operator has declined from $3.4 million in 2016-17 to $2.1 million in 2018-19 which represents a fall of 41 per cent.2 Sports betting remains a minor form of gambling in Tasmania, accounting for only 0.7 per cent of total gambling expenditure.
● In 2018-19 real national expenditure was equivalent to $49 per adult in 2018-19 prices while in Tasmania the figure was $5.98.
Gambling Support Program and the Tasmanian Gambling Exclusion Scheme (TGES)
● Online media information campaigns and other materials produced by Communities Tasmania are considered to be exceptionally high quality. The material in other languages and specifically addressing international students is unique.
● One of the most notable changes in respect of in-person counselling services is that self-referral has become an increasingly important method of referral, accounting for 90 per cent of referrals in 2019-20, which is well above the average of 62 per cent over the last six years.
● People engaging in in-person gambling help services have typically endured gambling problems for lengthy periods of time. In the three years to 2019-20, approximately 80 per cent of in-person clients had experienced gambling problems for two years or more.
● Reflecting the nature of problem gambling whereby people gamble and lose excessive amounts, financial impacts are by far the most commonly reported harm identified by Gambling Help clients. Some 86 per cent of Gambling Helpline clients in 2019-20 identified financial impacts as one of the consequences resulting from their gambling. The next most common consequence was identified as the impact on family, relationships and/or social interactions (48 per cent).
● A total of 389 people were excluded from gambling under the scheme as at 30 June 2020. This represents a decline of 5.6 per cent from the same time a year earlier although it is important to note that venues had been closed from 23 March through to June. The number excluded was still 5.7 per cent higher than in the corresponding period in 2016 just prior to undertaking the Fourth 2017 SEIS.
Modelling the Cessation of Problem Gambling in Tasmania: The impact of eliminating problem gambling
● The study examined the hypothetical economic impacts of the cessation of problem gambling in Tasmania. The study used a dynamic multi-region computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to examine a hypothetical ending of problem gambling in Tasmania spanning two years, 2020-21 and 2021-22.
● The quantified economic loss from the cessation of problem gambling, which excludes any valuation of the social harm from gambling, is $260 million in net present value terms or $7 million per annum. Another way of interpreting this is that if the net present value of social harm from problem gambling exceeds $260 million, the state will gain from an end to problem gambling.
● Employment losses associated with eliminating problem gambling are small in the context of likely future gains in economy-wide employment. The removal of problem gambling (the policy options are not specified) leads to Tasmania’s employment falling 0.03 per cent below base.
● To put these temporary job losses into context, employment in Tasmania grew by more than 6 per cent between 2016 and the COVID-19 outbreak (early 2020). That is, the jobs lost due to a permanent
2 Department of Treasury and Finance, Tasmania Fifth Social and Economic Impact Study: Volume 1 Page v SA Centre for Economic Studies, University of Adelaide June 2021 downturn in gambling activity due to cessation of problem gambling would be very small in comparison with the underlying employment growth trend.
General Community Concerns
● Community perspectives on the impact of gambling are focussed on the relative ease of accessibility of gambling in land-based venues. A secondary concern regards the pervasiveness of advertising in respect of gambling and the opportunities to gamble through technology platforms.
● Concerns were expressed regarding the growth of unregulated gaming products via the internet, the increase in online casino and slot games and accessibility to gambling via smartphones. The view was that technology platforms are most often absent of regulation and procedures for consumer protection.
● Respondents to the prevalence survey (2020), community and industry submissions and gambling help agencies were unanimous in their support for additional resources to be devoted to general awareness and advertising campaigns. Communities Tasmania education and awareness campaigns were rated very highly.
● There was also substantial agreement from across the community/gambling help sector as to further preventative strategies they would like to see implemented. These included support for reducing the maximum bet limit from $5 to $1, increasing the spin-rate from 3.5 seconds to 6 seconds, the introduction of a card-based pre-commitment system and reducing the number of hours open to gambling to a maximum of 12 hours a day.
Volume 2 Results of the 2020 Tasmanian Prevalence Survey
Research as part of the Fifth Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania required that a gambling prevalence study be undertaken to enable comparisons with previous Tasmanian prevalence studies. The prevalence survey was undertaken in 2020 but is referred to in Table E.1 by its release date 2021. Table E.1
Background and Overview
● A gambling prevalence study was undertaken by a consortium of researchers: the South Australian Centre for EconomicStudies (SACES) in conjunction with the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide and ENGINE.
● The timelines for the project and referencing of questions were adjusted to accommodate the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
● This research is the 8th dedicated prevalence survey to be conducted in Tasmania since 1994 (excluding the national survey conducted by the Productivity Commission, 1999).
Contextual Overview
● Tasmania has lower net per capita expenditure on gambling compared with other states and territories ($733 per adult) compared with $1,593 in New South Wales, $825 in South Australia and the Australian average of $1,277.
● Just over a third of net player expenditure (losses) comes from EGMs (35 per cent); another 27 per cent from casino activities; 23 per cent from various lottery products; and only 14 per cent from racing and sports (1 per cent) respectively.
● In the 2017 prevalence study: 0.6 per cent of the adult population in Tasmania were classified as problem gamblers; 1.4 per cent as moderate-risk gamblers; and, 4.8 per cent as low risk gamblers.
Methodology
● The research involved 5,009 respondents who were recruited using computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) in a sampling frame that extended from the 22 October 2020 to the 29 November 2020. Participants were adults aged 18 years and over living in Tasmania.
● The survey takes a public health approach to gambling. Several innovative features incorporated into this survey to enhance its policy relevance include: (a) a more extensive analysis of gambling-related harm; (b) analysis of the effects of COVID-19 on gambling behaviour; (c) questions on the convergence of gaming and gambling; (d) positive play and protective behaviours; (e) help-seeking; and (f) online gambling and advertising in sports.
● The survey involved a 100 per cent mobile design (all calls used mobile numbers) using sample sourced from the Integrated Public Number Database (IPND). The IPND is a centralised database containing all telephone numbers issued by Carriage Service Providers (CSPs) to their customers in Australia. The sample comprised a random selection of listed and unlisted mobile numbers for Tasmanian residents.
● The questionnaire was developed by The University of Adelaide in consultation with the Tasmanian Department of Treasury and Finance. To allow for comparability with previous prevalence surveys, item content was kept the same wherever possible. The survey included gambling participation, problem gambling risk status, gambling-related harms, gambling behaviours, help-seeking behaviours and gambling attitudes. The survey also included a section on the impact of COVID-19 on gambling behaviour. A sub-sampling design was used in this section to reduce the overall average survey length. Under this design, all respondents were administered a core set of questions. A further set of questions was then administered to a randomly selected 50 per cent of the total sample.
● The prevalence results reported were weighted to reflect non-response rates and enable weighted estimates for the adult Tasmanian population to be obtained.
Overall Participation Rate
● All respondents were asked to indicate which gambling activities, from a list of 12, they had spent money on during the 12 months preceding COVID-19 (that is, between March 2019 to February 2020) just before COVID was declared a pandemic.
● Overall, just under half (47 per cent) of Tasmanian adults had participated in at least one gambling activity in the 12 months prior to March 2020. Men were significantly more likely to participate in at least one gambling activity (49 per cent, compared with 45 per cent of women).
● The prevalence of ‘non-lottery gambling’ (i.e. participation in gambling activities excluding lotteries, TasKeno, instant scratchies and bingo) was 18 per cent. Again, men were significantly more likely than women to participate in at least one non-lottery gambling activity (23 per cent, compared with 13 per cent of women).
● Older respondents were more likely to gamble overall (56 per cent aged 55 to 64 years, compared with 47 per cent overall). However, the rate of non-lottery gambling was highest among the youngest respondents, aged 18-24 years (24 per cent) and lowest among those aged 65 years and over (13 per cent). The most prevalent gambling activity was lottery ticket buying (37 per cent). The next most popular activities were: TasKeno (17 per cent), instant scratchies (11 per cent), and EGM gambling (9 per cent).
● Further analysis based on gender showed that men were more likely than women to have participated in five of the 12 activities: betting on horse or greyhound races (10 per cent versus 4 per cent); betting on sporting events (7 per cent versus 1 per cent); playing casino tables games (6 per cent versus 2 per cent); informal private betting sessions (5 per cent versus 2 per cent); and playing poker games online for money (1 per cent versus 0.3 per cent).
● Half (49 per cent) of Tasmanian adults who had gambled in the past 12 months had participated in only one activity, a quarter (25 per cent) had participated in two activities, and a quarter (25 per cent) had participated in three or more activities3 .
● Almost a third (31 per cent) of gamblers had gambled once a week or more. Over a quarter (28 per cent) gambled one to three times a month, and 41 per cent had gambled less than once a month. Men and older respondents were more likely to gamble once a week or more (35 per cent of men, 43 per cent of people aged 55 years and over, compared with 31 per cent overall).
3 The results do not sum to 100% due to rounding.
● In relation to internet gambling, one in 20 (5 per cent) Tasmanian adults had gambled online in the 12 months preceding COVID-19.
Impact of COVID-19 on Gambling
● Tasmania imposed significant restrictions on indoor gatherings and stay-at-home orders. Gaming venues were closed towards the end of March 2020 for approximately three months.
● A series of questions examined the reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gambling behaviour.
● Of those people who reported being engaged with venue-based gambling, almost two-thirds reported no change in expenditure; almost a third reported a decrease; and, only around 4 per cent reported spending more than before.
● Just over 70 per cent of the people who gambled online reported no change in expenditure; around 20 per cent reported a decrease; and, around 9 per cent reported spending more than before.
● Very few people reported adopting any new forms of gambling and this includes online gambling. Respondents were more likely to report having ceased gambling on several activities, with EGMs, lotteries, and keno being the activities most likely to have ceased due to COVID-19.
● In relation to self-reported expenditure by venue-based gamblers, it was found that non-problem gamblers were most likely to remain the same, whereas higher risk gamblers were more likely to report spending less than before.
● In relation to online gambling, a total of 75 per cent of non-problem gamblers reported having not changed their expenditure as compared with 57 per cent of moderate-risk gamblers and those classified as problem gamblers. Higher risk gamblers generally reported having spent less on gambling (pre and post COVID-19) as compared to the other groups.
● Further analysis based on gender showed that women who gambled at venues were more likely to report having spent less than before, whereas men were more likely to stay the same. For online gambling, men were more likely than women to report having increased their expenditure.
● Younger people were generally more likely to report having spent less on venue-based gambling, but were significantly more likely to report an increase in expenditure on online gambling as compared with the other groups. Older people were more likely to report that their gambling had not changed due to COVID-19.
● The results showed that COVID-19 has generally led to a decline in reported expenditure on gambling and no clear evidence of a migration to online gambling. People have most likely decreased their involvement in activities that are venue based (e.g. EGMs, keno or casino table games). There was some trend towards men and younger people reporting an increase in expenditure on online gambling during the COVID-19 period. However, there was little evidence of higher risk gamblers gravitating towards online gambling or increasing their gambling.
Gambling Activities
● Participants were asked to indicate whether they had spent money on 12 different gambling activities in the period preceding the COVID restrictions imposed in March 2020. 4
Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) gambling
● Overall, 6 per cent of Tasmanian adults had played EGMs less than once a month (but at least once) in the12 months before COVID-19. A further 3 per cent had played one to three times a month, and 1 per cent had played once a week or more. Nine in ten Tasmanian adults (91 per cent) did not participate in EGM gambling during the 12 months in question.
● Analysis of EGM gamblers (i.e. excluding non-EGM gamblers) indicated that 64 per cent had played EGMs less than once a month, 27 per cent had played one to three times a month, and 8 per cent had played once a week or more.
● EGM participation was more frequent among older gamblers (EGM gamblers aged 65 years and over played 23.2 times per year, on average) and gamblers who were not working or studying (17.5 times per year, compared with 14.1 times per year overall).
4 Occasionally the displayed results will not sum to 100%, due to rounding or the exclusion of don’t know or refused responses.
Horse or greyhound races
● Overall, 3 per cent of Tasmanian adults had bet on horse or greyhound races less than once a month (but at least once). A further 2 per cent had bet between one to three times a month, and 1 per cent had bet once a week or more. Over nine in ten (93 per cent) did not bet on horse or greyhound races during the reference period.
● Analysis of race bettors (i.e. excluding non-race bettors) indicated that 53 per cent had bet on races less than once a month, 24 per cent had bet one to three times a month, and 23 per cent had bet once a week or more. Men were more likely than women to bet on races once a week or more (29 per cent compared with 7 per cent).
Lottery ticket buying
● Overall, 11 per cent of Tasmanian adults had bought lottery tickets once a week or more in the 12 months preceding COVID-19. A similar proportion (10 per cent) had purchased lottery tickets one to three times a month and 16 per cent had purchased lottery tickets less than once a month (but at least once). Nearly two thirds of Tasmanian adults (63 per cent) had not bought a lottery ticket during the 12 months reference period.
● Analysis of lottery ticket buyers indicated that three in ten (29 per cent) had bought lottery tickets once a week or more during the 12 months in question. A further 27 per cent had bought lottery tickets one to three times a month and 44 per cent had bought lottery tickets less than once a month. Men were more likely than women to buy lottery tickets once a week or more (34 per cent compared with 25 per cent).
● Lottery ticket buying tended to attract older gamblers (lottery ticket buyers aged 55 to 64 years purchased lottery tickets 34.6 times per year, on average), those who lived alone (30.9 times per year) or couples without children (29.1 times per year, compared with 25.4 times per year overall).
Instant scratch tickets
● Overall, 8 per cent of Tasmanian adults had purchased instant scratchies less than once a month (but at least once). A further 2 per cent had purchased instant scratchies one to three times a month and 1 per cent had purchased instant scratchies once a week or more. Nine in ten Tasmanian adults (89 per cent) had not bought instant scratch tickets during the 12 months in question.
● Analysis of instant scratch ticket buyers indicated that 73 per cent had bought instant scratchies less than once a month, one in five (20 per cent) had bought instant scratchies one to three times a month and 6 per cent had bought instant scratchies once a week or more.
● Instant scratchies were popular among older people (instant scratch ticket buyers aged 65 years and over purchased instant scratchies 13.4 times per year, on average) or people who were not working or studying (12.2 times per year, compared with 10.0 times per year overall).
Taskeno
● Around one in ten (11 per cent) Tasmanian adults had played Taskeno less than once a month (but at least once). A further 4 per cent had played one to three times a month and 2 per cent had played Taskeno once a week or more. Just over four in five (83 per cent) had not participated in Taskeno during the reference period.
● Analysis of Taskeno players indicated that 68 per cent had played Taskeno less than once a month, 23 per cent had played one to three times a month and 9 per cent had played once a week or more.
● Taskeno tended to attract older people (Taskeno players aged 55 to 64 years played 20.5 times per year, on average), those who lived alone (21.1 times per year) or those who were not working or studying (18.5 times per year, compared with 14.1 times per year overall).
Casino table games
● Overall, the majority of Tasmanian adults (96 per cent) had not participated in casino table games during the 12 months in question. Three percent (3 per cent) had played casino tables games less than once a month (but at least once). A further 0.3 per cent had played one to three times a month and 0.1 per cent had played once a week or more.
● Analysis of casino table game players (i.e. excluding non-gamblers) indicated that 89 per cent had played casino table games less than once a month during the reference period, 9 per cent had played one to three times a month and 2 per cent had played once a week or more.
Sports betting
● Overall, the majority of Tasmanian adults (96 per cent) had not bet on sporting events in the 12 months preceding COVID-19. Two percent (2 per cent) had bet on sporting events less than once a month (but at least once). A further 1 per cent had bet one to three times a month and the same proportion (1 per cent) bet once a week or more.
● Analysis of sports bettors (i.e. excluding non- bettors) indicated that half (50 per cent) had bet on sporting events less than once a month, 28 per cent had bet one to three times a month and 22 per cent had bet once a week or more.
Bingo
● Overall, the majority of Tasmanian adults did not participate in playing bingo (99 per cent). Only 0.4 per cent of Tasmanian adults had participated in bingo less than once a month (but at least once). A further 0.2 per cent had played bingo one to three times a month and 0.2 per cent had played once a week or more during the 12 months in question.
● Analysis of bingo players (i.e. excluding non-players) indicated that 47 per cent had played bingo less than once a month, 23 per cent had played one to three times a month and 30 per cent had played once a week or more.
How People Gamble
Expenditure
● For each activity undertaken in the 12 months before COVID-19, respondents were asked to estimate the ‘average’ amount they had spent during a ‘typical’ session of that activity.
● Self-reported gambling expenditure data remains inherently problematic (most often under represented, poor recollection, etc.) but is reported as an indication of gambling volume or intensity.
● Respondents who gambled were estimated to spend the highest per session amounts playing table games on-site at a casino ($75 median, $161 mean). This was more than double the next highest median spend ($30 per session) for each of: EGM gambling ($51 mean), online poker ($58 mean), and online casino games ($48 mean).
● Estimates of respondents’ annual spend per activity was derived from reported spend and reported frequency of participation. Apart from the small sample of online poker players (n=21, $250 median, $820 mean), the largest annual amounts were reportedly spent race betting, by respondents who placed race bets via the internet ($240 median, $4,127 mean), playing bingo ($240 median, $818 mean), and playing table games at a casino ($200 median, $1,539 mean).
● Estimates of respondents’ total annual gambling expenditure was also calculated from the sum of the amounts they had spent on each activity. The median annual amount spent gambling was $240 ($1,659 mean). Men reported spending more on gambling than women ($310 median, compared with $165).
● Annual gambling expenditure also increased with age (up to 64 years), decreased as education-level increased, and was higher among gamblers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.
EGM gambling
● The majority of EGM gamblers had played EGMs in hotels (60 per cent). A little under half (47 per cent) of EGM players had played casino EGMs.
● The most common options among EGM gamblers were: 1c or 2c units of credit (62 per cent), maximum lines (49 per cent), single credit per line (68 per cent never/rarely/sometimes played multiple credits per line), 71c average spend per spin (50c median).
● Men were significantly more likely than women to play higher stake options. This included: maximum lines(55 per cent compared with 43 per cent), multiple credits per line (32 per cent often/always, compared with 21 per cent), and over $1 per spin, on average (14 per cent compared with 7 per cent).
Wagering
● Over two-thirds (68 per cent) of race bettors had placed racing bets at a venue or via a phone call. The most popular venues for placing race bets were clubs and hotels (32 per cent of race bettors).
● Forty-six percent (46 per cent) of race bettors had placed racing bets over the internet, most commonly via a mobile device (39 per cent of race bettors). Online race betting was more common among men than women (50 per cent compared with 37 per cent).
● The majority (80 per cent) of sports bettors had bet on sporting events over the internet, most often using a mobile device (72 per cent of sports bettors).
● Over three-quarters (77 per cent) of sports bettors said that special deals and promotions had no effect on the amount they bet. A similar proportion (78 per cent) said that sports betting advertising had no effect on how much they bet.
Internet Gambling
● Over one in ten gamblers (11 per cent) had participated in internet gambling in the 12 months before COVID-19. This was equivalent to one in 20 respondents overall (5 per cent).
● Online sports betting, and online race betting were the most common internet gambling activities (3 per cent of respondents overall, for each).
● Internet gambling was significantly more prevalent among men (8 per cent, compared with 3 per cent of women), 18-24 year olds (11 per cent, compared with 3 per cent of respondents over 54 years), respondents of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin (10 per cent, compared with 5 per cent of respondents overall), and employed respondents (7 per cent, compared with 5 per cent of respondents overall).
● Men and younger gamblers were also more likely to only gamble via the internet (and not in person). Six percent (6 per cent) of male gamblers only gambled via the internet, compared with 1 per cent of female gamblers. Eight percent (8 per cent) of gamblers aged 18-24 years only gambled online, compared with 4 per cent of gamblers overall.
● University-educated respondents were significantly less likely to be online gamblers (4 per cent, compared with 5 per cent of respondents overall). However, those who were online gamblers were significantly more likely to only gamble online (6 per cent of university-educated gamblers, compared with 4 per cent of gamblers overall).
Problem Gambling
● Respondents who participated in at least one gambling activity in the 12 months before COVID-19 were asked the nine-item Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) questions.
● Results based on the total sample indicated that 0.4 per cent of Tasmanian adults were classified as problem gamblers, 1.7 per cent as moderate-risk gamblers and 4.3 per cent as low-risk gamblers. Respondents classified as moderate-risk or problem gamblers comprised 2.1 per cent of the Tasmanian population (4.5 per cent of gamblers).
● Analysis of those who reported gambling on at least one activity in the past 12 months indicated that the majority (86.4 per cent) of gamblers were classified as non-problem gamblers under the PGSI. Nine percent (9.1 per cent) of gamblers were considered low-risk gamblers, 3.7 per cent were moderate-risk gamblers, and 0.8 per cent were classified as problem gamblers.
● Rates of low-risk to problem gambling have remained relatively stable in Tasmania since 2011. In 2011 the figure was 2.4 per cent as compared with 2.1 per cent in the present survey.
● Compared with the results of recent gambling prevalence surveys in South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, Tasmania had the lowest prevalence rates recorded for all three gambling-risk categories: low-risk, moderate-risk and problem gambling.
● Men were significantly more likely than women to be categorised in the higher PGSI risk categories (3.0 per centwere classified as moderate-risk or problem gamblers, compared with 1.3 per cent of women).
● Moderate-risk or problem gambling was also more prevalent among younger adults (3.4 per cent of 25-34 year olds, compared with 2.1 per cent overall), single respondents (3.5 per cent compared with 1.3 per cent of respondents in married or in de facto relationships), and respondents with a trade qualification or diploma (3.0 per cent compared with 2.1 per cent overall).
● Moderate-risk and problem gamblers were significantly more likely than gamblers overall to have participated in each gambling activity, except lottery ticket buying and betting on non-sporting events.
● Not surprisingly, the frequency of gambling participation increased with PGSI risk level. This was the case both for gambling generally (all activities undertaken), and for all five of the most popular activities: playing EGMs, race betting, buying lottery tickets, buying scratchies, and playing TasKeno.
● Moderate-risk and problem gambling prevalence was lowest among participants of the most popular gambling activity, lottery ticket buying (4 per cent). In contrast, 18 per cent of sports bettors, 17 per cent of bingo players, and 15 per cent of in-venue casino table game players were categorised as moderate-risk and problem gamblers (compared with 5 per cent of gamblers overall).
● For all individual gambling activities, apart from bingo, the reported median expenditure per gambling session was higher for respondents classified as moderate-risk and problem gamblers than for participantsin the activity overall.
● The largest annual median amount reportedly spent by moderate-risk and problem gamblers on an individual activity was $2,600 on race betting (compared with $240 spent by race bettors overall). The second largest annual median amount spent by moderate-risk and problem gamblers was associated with EGM playing ($2,400, compared with $120 spent by EGM players overall).
● Moderate-risk and problem gamblers were significantly more likely to be online gamblers than gamblers overall (41 per cent compared with 11 per cent). Notably, half (51 per cent) of problem gamblers had participated in internet- based gambling activities.
● Over a quarter (26 per cent) of moderate-risk and problem gamblers had bet on sporting events via the internet, compared with 7 per cent of gamblers overall. Just under a fifth (19 per cent) had placed racing bets via the internet, compared with 6 per cent of gamblers overall.
● Online poker players were significantly more likely to be moderate-risk or problem gamblers than online gamblers overall (41 per cent compared with 16 per cent).
● A multivariate analysis confirmed that the demographic ‘predictors’ of moderate-risk or problem gambling included being male, 25-34 years old, single, unemployed, or educated to a trade certificate or diploma level.
● Sports betting and EGM gambling were the activities most significantly associated with moderate-risk and problem gambling.
Gambling Harm
● The nature and severity of gambling harm was measured in six dimensions: financial; psychological; relationships; physical health; work and study; and legal (committing crimes to fund gambling). With the exception of the final category, respondents were asked to indicate the severity of harm at three levels: (a) over-prioritisation; (b) strains and pressures; and (c) severe harms.
Harm measured in all gamblers
● Financial harm: It was found that 1.41 per cent of people who gambled reported over-prioritising gambling ahead of other things, 1.10 per cent experienced pressures or strains and 0.34 per cent experienced severe impacts or harms associated with gambling (which could include a loss of essential services, bankruptcy or selling assets).
● Psychological harm: 1.49 per cent of the people who gambled reported putting gambling ahead of their psychological health, 1.74 per cent experienced psychological strain or distress due to gambling and 0.47 per cent experienced severe psychological consequences.
● Relationship harm: 0.64 per cent of the people who gambled were prioritising gambling ahead of important relationships. 1.15 per cent had experienced pressures or strains on their relationship and 0.47 per cent had experienced significant relationship harms (e.g. loss of relationships) due to gambling.
● Physical health harm: A total of 1.19 per cent of people who gambled reported putting gambling ahead of theirphysical health, 0.81 per cent reported impacts on their physical health due to gambling, but only .04 per cent (only one person) reported that gambling had led to severe physical harm.
● Work and study harm: 0.81 per cent of people who gambled reported prioritising gambling over work or study; 0.3 per cent reported that gambling was leading to reduced performance; and, 0.08 per cent (two people) reported severework/study consequences because of gambling (e.g. loss of job).
● Legal: Only five (or 0.21 per cent of the sample) reported having committed illegal acts to gamble.
Harm by risk level (PGSI categories)
● Over-prioritisation (in at least one area of harm): This behaviour was very rare in non-problem gamblers (0.7 per cent), reported by just over one in 20 low-risk gamblers, by 28 per cent of moderate-risk gamblers and more than nine in 10 problem gamblers. Inspection of the data showed that 57 per cent of problem gamblers and 5.9 per cent of moderate-risk gamblers over-prioritised gambling in three of the five areas investigated.
● Pressures and strains: These were very rare in non-problem (0.4 per cent) and low risk gamblers (2.4 per cent), but were reported by 29 per cent of moderate-risk gamblers and 90 per cent of problem gamblers. Severe harms: These were almost non-existent in the low-risk groups, were reported by 7 per cent of moderate-risk gamblers and by 60 per cent of problem gamblers.
● Financial harm: 60 per cent of problem gamblers reported over-prioritisation; 75 per cent reported pressures and strains and 30 per cent reported severe harms. The figures for moderate-risk gamblers were: 15 per cent, 9 per cent and 1 per cent respectively.
● Psychological harm: 80 per cent of problem gamblers reported over-prioritisation; 80 per cent reported pressures and strains; and 30 per cent reported serious psychological harm due to gambling. The figures for moderate-risk gamblers were: 16 per cent, 19 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.
● Relationship harm: 55 per cent of problem gamblers reported over-prioritisation; 70 per cent reported pressures and strains; and 40 per cent reported severe relationship harm. The figures for moderate-risk gamblers were: 10 per cent, 2 per cent and 12 per cent respectively.
● Physical health harm: 70 per cent of problem gamblers reported over-prioritisation; 40 per cent reported strains and pressures; and 50 per cent reported severe physical health harm due to gambling. The figures for moderate-risk gamblers were: 2 per cent, 12 per cent and 7 per cent respectively.
● Work and study harm: 40 per cent of problem gamblers reported over-prioritisation; 30 per cent reported pressures and strains and 50 per cent reported severe harm to work or study.
● Harm in lower risk gamblers: In support of Browne et al. (2016), the results show that harm is not solely confined to the higher risk groups (around 21 per cent comes from the lower risk groups), but much of this appears to relate to over-prioritisation rather than strains, pressures or serious harm.
● Overall distribution of harm: Using weighted aggregate harm scores, it was found that 48.8 per cent of the total sum of harm is contributed by problem gamblers, 30 per cent by moderate-risk gamblers, 8.6 per cent by low-risk gamblers and 12.6 per cent by non-problem gamblers. In other words, almost 79 per cent of the total harm score totalis attributable to moderate and problem gambling.
● Demographics and harm: Younger people and men were significantly more likely to report overprioritising gambling over other areas of life and to report strains or pressures due to gambling.
● Activities and gambling harm: The odds of people who bet on sports prioritising gambling ahead of other activities was four times higher than for those who did not bet on sports. The odds of over- prioritisation were 2.6 times higher for those who gambled on EGMs. The odds of men reporting strains or pressures were 1/0.53 or 1.9 times higher; EGM participation increased the odds three times and sports gambling increased the odds almost three times.
Positive Play and Gambling
● The Positive Play Scale (PPS) examines the extent to which people are feeling honest with others and in control of their gambling (the Honesty and Control Subscale); whether they are setting a budget before they gamble (Pre-commitment); if they are taking responsibility for their actions (Personal Responsibility); and, whether theyare viewing gambling in an objective manner (Gambling Literacy).
● Honesty and control: Problem gamblers indicated significant difficulties in being able to stay in control or be honest about their gambling (as indicate by a mean score of 12 versus. a possible maximum score of 21).
● Pre-commitment: The analysis for pre-commitment showed a similar trend. Problem gamblers, in particular, reported being much less likely to set budgets before they gambled.
● Personal responsibility: The results for personal responsibility revealed smaller differences between thegroups, but showed that problem gamblers and, to a lesser degree, moderate-risk gamblers, were less likely to believe themselves to be responsible for their actions as compared with non-problem gamblers.
● Gambling literacy: Higher risk gamblers also reported lower gambling literacy compared with the lower risk groups which indicates that they were more likely to see gambling as a way to make money or that they held erroneous beliefs about their chances of winning.
● Demographic differences: Women were more likely to take personal responsibility and to have better scores on the Gambling Literacy subscale. The results showed that older people tended to have less positive play than younger people. The 65+ age group scored lower on honesty and control and also personal responsibility than the younger age group.
● Harm: those who reported over-prioritising gambling had significantly poorer scores on Honesty and Control and Pre-commitment, but did not differ on the two belief subscales.
Gambling and Gaming
● A number of questions were included to capture video gaming, online rewards use, – problem gaming and the association between these variables and gambling. This section of the study was included to address the concept of digital convergence.
● Around 40 per cent of the total sample reported playing video games at least once per week. Just over a quarter reported moderate usage and around 6 per cent played 30 or more hours per week.
● 218 people in the total sample (or 4.4 per cent) could be classified as having at least some signs of problems with gaming.
● A total of 38 per cent people who played video games indicated that they played games that contained loot boxes. However, only 150 (or 9 per cent) reported having purchased a loot box. Of these people, 83 (57 per cent) indicated that they usually spent (per month) less than $10; 37 (24 per cent) indicated between $10 and $20; 5 per cent indicated $21-30; and 14 per cent said that they spent more than $30. Only 24 people indicated that they had used skins to gamble, which represents 1 per cent of video gamers and less than 1 per cent of the total sample.
● There was little indication that video gaming had any influence on their gambling. When asked: 93 per cent indicated ‘Not at all’; 4 per cent said ‘Very little’; 1 per cent said ‘Moderate’ and 1 per cent said ‘Strong influence’. In other words, video games were generally not seen as a pathway to gambling. Only around 2 per cent of video gamers suggested some influence, which represents around 1 per cent of the total sample of 5,009 people.
● Loot boxes are rarely purchased by occasional gamers, but over one in five very regular gamers (those who play 30 hours per week) reported purchasing them.
● The prevalence of signs of problem gaming was significantly higher in problem gamblers as compared with other groups: 15 per cent of problem gamblers displayed at least one sign of problematic gaming comparedwith only around 4 per cent of the lower risk groups.
● Problem and moderate-risk gamblers were also significantly more likely to report having purchased a lootbox compared with the lower risk groups: 25 per cent of problem gamblers reported buying loot boxes and that this behaviour increased with the level of risk (as based on the PGSI). This is consistent with international studies.
● Men were more likely to report higher intensities of gaming than women. The percentage of men reporting 30 or more hours of video-gaming per week was more than double that of women (8 per cent to 4 per cent).
● Video gaming was most common in the youngest age groups. Over 50 per cent of people in the youngest age group (under 40 years) played 10 or more hours per week, with 11 per cent reporting 30 or more hours.
● Of those who gambled on online gaming activities (casino games), 13 per cent reported having purchased a lootbox compared with 3 per cent of those who had engaged in this form of online gambling.
Help-Seeking
● Gamblers’ help-seeking behaviour during the past 12 months was examined. This included gamblers’ self- exclusion behaviour, the type of help and the reason for seeking or not seeking any help. Due to the small sample of help seekers, findings should be treated with caution.
Formal self-exclusion
● Eleven gamblers said they had used the formal self-exclusion process to exclude themselves from entering gambling venues; seven men and four women. Three out of the seven male gamblers tried to re-enter venues during self-exclusion period and all of them succeeded, while no female gamblers tried to re-enter.
● Nine out of the 11 gamblers who formally self-excluded were classified as moderate-risk or problem gamblers.
Online self-exclusion
● Only 18 gamblers said they had excluded themselves from an online gambling provider; 14 men and four women. Five out of the 14 self-excluded male gamblers tried to re-access the online provider and three succeeded, while one female gambler tried to re-access but did not succeed.
● Thirteen out of the 18 who had self-excluded from online providers were classified as moderate-risk or problem gamblers.
Help-seeking
● Thirteen gamblers sought help for their gambling related problems; seven men and six women. Twelve out the 13 help seekers were classified as moderate-risk or problem gamblers.
● Help seekers (n=13) were asked their reasons for seeking help. Most commonly, they had realised that they had a problem and that things had to change (n=8). Other reasons included: wanting support and advice from friends (n=5), wanting professional advice (e.g. GP, n=3), and experiencing a family or financial crisis (both n=2).
● Nine help seekers said they sought professional help, in the form of a counselling service or social worker. Personal help had been sought by six help seekers, and self-help by two. The Gambler’s Help 24-hour hotline had been accessed by one respondent, and Gambler’s Help face-to-face counsellors had also been used by one respondent.
● Professional help awareness: Those who sought professional help (n=10) were asked how they found out about it. The most common means was via referral from another professional service (n=4). This was followed by advertising material or a sign in a pub, hotel, club or casino (n=2). One respondent had directly contacted an independent counsellor or community organisation, and one had found professional help via the Tasmanian Gambler’s Help Website.
● Type of personal help: Those who sought personal help (n=6) were asked what type of personal help they had sought. Family members were preferred (n=3). Two respondents said they talked to a friend or work colleague.
● Respondents who did not seek any help and had a PGSI score of 2 or more (n=157) were asked why theyhad not sought help for their gambling problem. More than four fifths (82 per cent) said that they did not have a gambling problem, while one in ten (10 per cent) believed they could sort the problem out themselves, and 2 per cent felt that counselling ‘is not helpful’.
● Moderate-risk and problem gamblers were significantly more likely than low-risk gamblers to believe theycould ‘sort the problem out themselves’ (14 per cent compared with 3 per cent).
Health-Related Correlates and Community Attitudes Towards Gambling
● The prevalence of co-morbidities, including alcohol, cigarettes and other substances, and the psychological wellbeing of all respondents were assessed in the study.
Alcohol consumption
● Using a brief alcohol screen, all respondents were asked about the frequency and volume of their alcohol consumption. Four levels of harm related to alcohol consumption were derived: a) no risk of harm; b) lowrisk of harm; c) medium risk of harm; and d) high risk of harm.
● Men were significantly more likely than women to be classified as having a high risk of alcohol harm (51 per cent compared to 32 per cent).
● Two thirds (67 per cent) of moderate-risk and problem gamblers (combined) were classified as having a high risk of alcohol related harm. Among problem gamblers alone, the rate reached 90 per cent.
Smoking
● All respondents were classified into five smoking frequency categories: a) never smoked; b) ex-smoker; c) less than weekly; d) at least weekly and e) daily.
● Two thirds (66 per cent) of Tasmanian adults had never smoked. Seventy percent (70 per cent) of women had never smoked, 62 per cent of men had never smoked.
● Three in ten (31 per cent) moderate-risk and problem gamblers (combined) reported that they smoke daily, compared with 10 per cent of non-gamblers.
Other substances, such as anti-depressants, sleeping pills, marijuana and any other illicit substances
● Almost four fifths (78 per cent) of Tasmanian adults reported that they had not consumed any medication or illicit substances in the past four weeks. A quarter (26 per cent) of women, and 18 per cent of men, said they had taken at least one medicine or illicit substance.
● Anti-depressants were most common, taken by 14 per cent of the Tasmanian adults.
● Almost two fifths (37 per cent) of moderate-risk and problem gamblers (combined) reported having used one or more medical or illicit substances.
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6)
● All respondents were asked to respond to six statements (K6) relating to the experience of psychological distress within a past 30-day’s time-frame. Items related to: feeling nervous, hopeless, restless or fidgety, worthless, depressed, or that everything was an effort.
● Three levels of distress (no or low distress, moderate, and high) were calculated, based on respondents’ responses to the K6.
● Feeling nervous was the most commonly reported statement, with 53 per cent of Tasmanian adults saying that they had felt nervous during the past 30 days. This was followed by feeling restless or fidgety (49 per cent), and finding everything to be an effort (48 per cent).
● Almost half (45 per cent) of moderate-risk and problem gamblers (combined) were classified as ‘moderate distress’ based on the K6, and a further 20 per cent were classified as ‘high distress’.
Overall attitudes towards the impact of gambling on the community
● Two statements were used to measure attitudes towards the impact of gambling on the community. Half the sample was asked their level of agreement with the statement that ‘gambling has done more good than harm for the community’; while the other half was asked the inverse (i.e. whether gambling has done more harm than good). Responses to these two questions were combined for analysis of the sample overall, and are reported in terms of agreement with the statement, ‘Gambling has done more harm for the community than good’.
● Four fifths (80 per cent) of the Tasmanian population strongly agreed or agreed with the statement, including 77 per cent of gamblers and 83 per cent of non-gamblers.
● Bingo players (56 per cent), and EGM players (70 per cent) were significantly less likely than other gamblers (77 per cent) to agree with the statement.
Gamblers’ enjoyment of gambling
● More than four in five (85 per cent) gamblers indicated that gambling had made no difference to their life. One in ten (10 per cent) reported that gambling had made their life a lot or a little more enjoyable, and 4 per cent said that gambling had made their life a lot or a little less enjoyable.
● Moderate-risk and problem gamblers were divided in opinion: 28 per cent felt that gambling had made their life a lot or a little more enjoyable, while 31 per cent of them said gambling had made their life less enjoyable.
Media release – Michael Ferguson, Minister for Finance, 1 July 2021
Gambling on the decline in Tasmania
Gambling in Tasmania has continued to decline according to the latest Social and Economic Impact Study (SEIS) which has been released today.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government has put important measures in place to reduce problem gambling in our State and we welcome today’s Report which confirms that those measures are working as intended.
The 5th SEIS on Gambling in Tasmania found that the prevalence of gambling in our State has continued to decline from 71.7 per cent in 2008, down to 58.5 per cent in 2017 and was sitting at 47 per cent in 2020.
The report shows that the most common gambling activity in Tasmania was lottery tickets with 37 per cent of adult Tasmanians participating, followed by Keno (17 per cent), instant scratchies (11 per cent), and electronic gaming machines (9 per cent).
This Government understands that problem gambling is a serious issue and the 5th SEIS report reveals that in 2020 an estimated 0.4 per cent of adult Tasmanians were classified as problem gamblers based on the Problem Gamblers Severity Index, down from 0.6 per cent in the 4th SEIS.
According to the 5th SEIS, EGM expenditure has also fallen by 15 per cent since the 4th SEIS to $174 million, down from $204 million.
Tasmania has the lowest per capita expenditure on gambling of all the states at $733 per adult compared with the Australian average of $1277.
The work of the independent Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission is acknowledged in developing the State’s leading harm minimisation strategy.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government will continue to take measures to minimise harm from gambling and support problem gamblers.
Please see link to the report: https://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/liquor-and-gaming/gambling/reduce-harm-from-gambling/social-and-economic-impact-studies
Media release – Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, 1 July 2021
PREMIER MUST RULE OUT POKIES TAX CUT
Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, has called on the Premier to rule out a tax cut on poker machines for its political mate Federal Group after a study found that Tasmania collects the least amount of revenue from gambling taxes than any other jurisdiction.
The Fifth Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling in Tasmania in 2021, commissioned by the Tasmanian Government and released today in State Parliament, also found gambling could be costing the state up to $36m.
“Tasmania is still waiting to see the State Government’s new poker machine laws and find out the size of the Liberals’ thank-you gift to the gambling industry that bankrolled its 2018 election win,” Mr Wilkie said. “This study shows Tasmania already collects the least amount of revenue from gambling taxes in Australia – both per head of population and as a proportion of gross state product – so the Premier must today rule out a further cut to poker machine taxes.
“Gambling is already costing the community up to $36m and we must not give away future taxes that could help our hospitals and schools. When the virtually free licences are rolled in the gross cost to the community is in the hundreds of millions.”
The study also found job losses associated with eliminating problem gambling are small in the context of likely future gains in economy-wide employment. And it confirmed the concentration of poker machines in disadvantaged communities with 60 per cent of club and hotel poker machines in the 13 most socio-economically disadvantaged local government areas.
Mr Wilkie said State Parliament must insist on measures in his Poker Machine Protection Plan including slower spins, $1 maximum bets, tougher fines for venues and the removal of addictive features from the machines.
“Incredibly the State Government’s gambling policy does ‘not propose any specific changes to the harm minimisation framework’,” Mr Wilkie said. “This is what happens when you let the poker machine industry write government policy. The Premier needs to rip up the policy and start again.”
Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader, 1 July 2021
Liberals’ Gambling Spin
The Liberals are spinning faster than a roulette wheel on the latest data over the social impact of gambling. It’s pretty clear, this is the government softening up Tasmanians for the amendments to the Gaming Control Act 1993 that were bought and paid for by the gambling industry in 2018.
In Question Time today, Minister Ferguson highlighted the decline in ‘problem gamblers’ since the 2017 study, but he neglected to mention that the ‘Moderate-risk and problem gamblers’ category has increased from 2% to 2.1%.
The study notes, due to methodology changes, comparison between studies should be interpreted with care. Minister Ferguson took no such care.
The study also highlights a concerning trend – there is a significant correlation between age and problem gambling. Younger people (18-34) are twice as likely as those aged 35-54, and four times as likely as those aged over 55, to be at-risk gamblers.
Unsurprisingly, electronic gaming machines remain one of the most popular gambling activities amongst moderate-risk and problem gamblers, and was the second most costly activity (after table games at casinos) per session. It was also the second most expensive activity per year after horse and greyhound racing betting.
The study also shows that 70.2% of Gamblers Help clients cite pokies as the form of gambling that causes them the most life challenges.
The Liberals can keep spinning over pokies harm, but the facts are clear – pokies are still destroying lives and livelihoods, and this harm will only be compounded by their extension of poker machines in pubs and clubs until 2043.
