Research proves the less you earn the more you gamble

Professor Jan McMillen and her team at the Centre for Gambling Research at the ANU (Australian National University) have released an extensive study into the effect of gaming machines on local communities which provides evidence for some generally held beliefs about locating gaming machines in residential areas.

The study, "Gaming Machine Accessibility and Use in Suburban Canberra: A Detailed Analysis of the Tuggeranong Valley" found the following:

• Clubs who draw their patrons from the local area around the venue attract heavier gamblers.
• Youngest patrons (18-25) and oldest patrons (75+) are the highest users of venues and machines.
• Rate of egm gambling declines as household income increases.
• If you travel less to gamble at your preferred gamble, you gamble more money and more often.
• People who walk to, or catch a taxi to venues seem to gamble more.
• Smokers gamble for longer than non-smokers.
• Smokers, loyalty card users, weekly EGM gamblers and gamblers who use more than one machine report higher losses.
• Gamblers who live within 4km of the venue report higher losses.

These findings are based on research conducted by a well respected source. This is the evidence that industry and government keep saying that they need before making changes to gaming legislation and/or industry practice. The study has been done. Prof. McMillen has also suggested repeating the study in other areas of Australia. The model exists now and the new Ministerial Panel on Gaming here in Victoria should immediately conduct the same research here. If they don't conduct it, local governments in growth areas such as Casey should fund the research themselves as it will give them proof of the effects of gambling on their community.

Gambling unfairly targets those close to venues, the young and aged and those with low incomes. It may not be by design, but it happens anyway. Reform is needed to reduce the harm that is occurring to the community at large.

GG