...Press Release...

July 13, 2007

Reduction in gambling harm welcomed

A drop in the number of problem gamblers seeking help demonstrates that decreasing gambling opportunities can be effective in reducing problem gambling says the Problem Gambling Foundation.

National Operations Manager Graham Aitken says that the flow on effects of smoke free legislation and the Gambling Act have led to a 3.1%l reduction in the number of full clients seeking help.

He points out that Department of Internal Affairs figures also show a 4% drop in pokie machine numbers between December 2005 and December 2006.

"Tighter regulation has led to a reduction in the number of pokies in the community and that has resulted in less problem gamblers seeking help.'

'The message is quite clear - further tightening will lead to further reductions in gambling related harm in our communities."

Mr Aitken says that an increase in the amount of harm being caused by casino based pokies is not surprising.

"Pokies are the main revenue stream for casinos and they are open for up to 24 hours a day. We hear of people sitting at machines day and night. You can't do that without running into problems."

Mr Aitken is critical of gambling industry attempts to portray problem gambling as being confined to a few people with a lack of will power.

"The truth is that it is a normal outcome for anyone regularly gambling on the pokies to develop problems.'

"It's about time the industry started acting a bit responsibly and installed safety features that would reduce the harm their machines do"

Mr Aitken says that a combination of mandatory smart card technology, better host responsibility programmes and reform of trust funding distribution would go a long way towards eliminating pokie harm.

'When you consider that an estimated 85% of problem gamblers do not seek help you realise there is no room for complacency," he says.

ENDS

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