Australian's gambling losses soar to $32 B; regulations expected by Alliance for Gambling Reform

The new figures collated by Queensland Treasury found that national gambling losses for 2022/23 totalled $32 billion. Previously the only available loss figures were for 2018/19 which totalled $25 billion.

The average loss per Australian adult was $1,555 per year – up from $1,307 (18/19)

The CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Martin Thomas, said the new figures represented an alarming spike in gambling losses which would be reflected in social harm on an industrial scale across the Australian community.

 “Australians lose more to gambling than any other nation in the world because we have a grossly inadequate regulatory regime in which the gambling industry has been allowed to operate virtually unchecked causing devastation to individuals, families and communities,” Mr Thomas said.

“These latest horrifying loss figures underscore the importance of the Federal Government adopting all 31 recommendations of the Murphy Report including a full ban on gambling advertising on broadcast media and online. It also proves the need for a national strategy on gambling and the formation of a national regulator.

“The Albanese Government has been sitting on the recommendations of the Murphy Report for more than 14 months now, it is time for action, it is time for political leadership to protect Australians and especially to protect our children who are being groomed to gamble by a ruthless, profit-hungry industry.”

Mr Thomas said at a state level it was critical that governments move to implement cashless gambling cards at poker machine venues which were mandatory and had pre-set loss limits.

“Only in this way can we reduce the gambling harm caused by poker machines and also tackle the billions of dollars from the proceeds of crime that the NSW Crime Commission highlighted were poured into poker machines across pubs and clubs.”

The latest poll by Red Bridge shows that 72% of Australians are in favour of a full gambling ad ban.

The Murphy inquiry, chaired by Labor MP, Peta Murphy, and unanimously supported by inquiry members from both sides of politics, found that the “inescapable torrent” of gambling advertising is normalising online gambling and its links with sport, grooming children and young people to gamble, and encouraging riskier behaviour.

Gambling harm is a massive public health issue, linked to poor physical and mental health, poverty and homelessness, criminal activity, family violence, and suicide.

Exposure to advertising can normalise gambling participation, lead to early uptake of online gambling and increased risk of harm and can encourage impulse betting and continued and intensified wagering.

The full loss figures are available at: Gambling: Australian gambling statistics | Queensland Government Statistician's Office (qgso.qld.gov.au)