There is strong evidence on the impacts of gambling as well as support in the community for change. Here are some of the primary sources of information if you would like more detail.

Poker machine expenditure and community benefit

UnitingCare commissioned a Monash University report that assesses both poker machine expenditure and claimed community benefits in 41 different electoral divisions across Australia.

In some areas, such as Blaxland, in south-west Sydney, the average gambler lost 34.2% of their annual income to the pokies.

It was found that poker machines are likely "to be a key factor in the intergenerational transmission of disadvantage in disadvantaged communities" (page 20). And that "imparcts are concentrated in those communities least able to absorb them" (page 4).

Productivity Commission Report on Gambling 2010 

The Productivity Commission is the Australian Government’s independent research and advisory body. Its role is to help governments make better policies in the long-term interest of the Australian community.

The Productivity Commission’s Report on Gambling was released in June 2010 following a public inquiry. It is the primary source for the gambling debate in Australia today. One of the main findings of the report is that:

“There is strong evidence that gambling can have adverse health, emotional and financial impacts on many more people than those categorised as ‘problem gamblers’. As is the case in policies addressing harm from alcohol consumption, policy also needs to address these wider impacts.” (Finding 4.1, page 47)

If you prefer a summary of the main findings and recommendations click here.

A summary of the Productivity Commission’s 1999 inquiry into Australia’s Gambling Industries is here.

Women and Gambling: Issues of difference

A report by the Responsible Gambling Advocacy Centre from November 2011.

"This paper surveyed international and Australian research for information about women’s problem gambling behaviours. Much of gambling research is more or less gender blind and little is specifically directed at analysing the behaviour of women. Because men gamble more than women, and across a wider range of activities, they are more likely to be a focus of research even where gender is considered.  

ANUpoll Public Opinion on Gambling 2011

The Australian National University (ANU) is a leading Australian university. The introduction to the report says that this ANUpoll, “asks how frequently people gamble and how they view regulation, what they think about gambling problems and potential sources of assistance for problem gambling. The results suggest that there is a widespread recognition that gambling is harmful for some people. Australians support at least some degree of government regulation.”

One of the main findings of the poll is that, “The public generally believes there are adverse consequences from gambling, is supportive of some degree of government regulation, but does not support banning gambling altogether.” (Key points summary, page 6)

Electronic gaming machines: what lessons from Norway?

This Australian Parliamentary Library Background Note, written by Amanda Biggs in November 2011, says in the introduction that, "In recent months a contentious debate around proposals to introduce mandatory pre-commitment on electronic gaming machines (EGMs) has developed in Australia. The debate has tended to focus around two key issues: evidence on the effectiveness of the proposed reforms (will it work to limit problem gambling); and the potential financial impact on the gambling sector (including venues like clubs and pubs) and the effect this might have on the broader community. This paper discusses the first of these issues, the evidence of effectiveness, looking in particular at evidence from Norway."

Essential Report October 2011 

This poll conducted by Essential Research in October 2011 asked 1,034 respondents a range of questions including this one:

“The Federal Government has proposed gambling reforms which include ‘pre-commitment’ technology that will require pokie players to have a card registered to their name and pre-programmed to prevent them losing more than a set amount in a 24-hour period. Do you support or oppose this measure?”

Sixty-one per cent of respondents supported the measure. Essential Media note that respondents aged 18-24 are the most likely to support the reforms (74%) while those aged 55-64 are the most likely to oppose them (42%).

Essential Media add that respondents in NSW are the most likely to oppose the reforms.

The October report also had a question that shows, “poker machines in clubs [are] the least well regarded source of income for football clubs by a large margin.”

The “pokies legislation” question is on page 6 and football club income question is on page 7.

Essential Report September 2011

This poll conducted by Essential Research in September 2011 asked 1,004 respondents a range of questions including this one:

“The Federal Government has proposed gambling reforms which include ‘pre-commitment’ technology that will require pokie players to have a card registered to their name and pre-programmed to prevent them losing more than a set amount in a 24-hour period. Do you support or oppose this measure?”

Sixty-seven per cent of respondents supported the measure.

The “pokies legislation” question is on page 8.

Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform 2011

In May 2011 this Parliamentary Committee presented the report, “The design and implementation of a mandatory pre-commitment system for electronic gaming machines”.

The Executive Summary states that, “This inquiry into the design and implementation of a mandatory pre-commitment system arose in recognition of the significant harms caused to individuals, families and the wider community through problem gambling associated with high intensity Electronic Gaming Machines.” (page xi)

Problem gamblers and the role of the financial sector 2011

This report looks at how problem gamblers access funds to gamble. The background to the report says that, “Research has found that between 15 and 20 per cent of the homeless population of Australia are homeless due to a gambling addiction. Many more face severe financial difficulty due to problem gambling.” (Section 1.1)

The report is by the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies for the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

Gambling Research Australia 

Gambling Research Australia is responsible for managing a national research agenda on gambling. The website has a database of 1,700 gambling research publication titles and their origins which are searchable via topic, title, author or category.