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Australia’s Gambling Problem: A Hidden Cost of Entertainment

Australia may excel in sports, but there’s one activity where it leads the world in a less celebrated way: gambling. Despite making up just 0.5% of the global population, Australians account for 20% of the world’s poker machines and lose $25 billion annually on gambling. This makes Australia the highest per capita loser in the world.

The federal government’s reluctance to fully ban gambling ads highlights the power of the gambling industry. Problem gambling is deeply intertwined with social issues like domestic violence, suicide, and mental illness.

Data shows that 17% of regular gamblers in Australia are problem gamblers, a figure that jumps to 70% among young men.

Online gambling has also surged, with losses nearly doubling from 2019 to 2022.

While a full ban on gambling ads was recommended by MPs, the current proposal is a partial ban.

The government’s hesitation seems more about protecting the struggling free-to-air TV industry, which heavily relies on gambling ad revenue, than addressing the societal damage caused by gambling.

The Enormous Cost of Problem Gambling

The broader cost of problem gambling in Victoria alone is estimated at $7 billion annually. This cost is borne by families, employers, and children of gamblers who are unable to control their addiction.

The gambling industry’s profits, bolstered by these losses, continue to thrive while the real victims remain unheard.

Source abc.net.au

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