Published
Land-BasedFinancial

Social and Economic Impact Study reveals cost of gambling in Tasmania

Gambling in Tasmania delivers benefits of between AU$123.3m (US$92.06m) and AU$207.8m, but is estimated to cost between AU$48.9m and AU$159.6m, according to the latest Social and Economic Impact Study for gaming.

tas mania

The report found that the most significant quantifiable cost of gambling was the AU$57m cost associated with relationship breakdowns, followed by psychological distress of problem gamblers and their immediate family.

The prevalence of gambling in Tasmania did, however, decline from 72% in 2008 to 47% in 2020, with Finance Minister Michael Ferguson noting that “Tasmania has the lowest per capita expenditure on gambling of all the states at AU$733 per adult compared with the Australian average of AU$1277.”

Expenditure of electronic gaming machines has also dropped, falling from AU$204m to AU$174m.

But according to Nelson independent MLC and anti-pokies campaigner, Meg Webb, gambling expenditure remains high, and is now concentrated in a smaller section of the state’s population.

“We can easily make pokies safer in Tasmania without affecting recreational use or jobs,” said Webb. “Yet the government is still prepared to abandon the tens of thousands of Tasmanians being harmed by poker machines.

“The issue is even larger than these figures represent, which is confirmed by the elevated losses we continue to see, month after month.”

Premium+ Connections
 
Premium

RISK

 
Premium

GammaStack

 
Premium

Galaxsys

 
Premium

Digitain

 
Premium

Sport Generate

 
Premium

1xBet Partners

 
Premium

PIN-UP Partners

 
Premium

Imagine Live

 
Premium

Lynon

 
Premium

Revsharks

 
Premium Connections
Consultancy

SCCG Management

Executive Profiles
Zeal Network SE

Stefan Tweraser

VIP Play

Les Ottolenghi

Scientific Games

Keshav Pitani

Social & App

Spribe CEO exclusive: Simplicity is the foundation

Spribe CEO David Natroshvili speaks to Gambling Insider abou...

Redefining iGaming: A history of crash games

Crash games is a growing vertical that has taken gambling by...

A certain something: What makes crash games special?

Crash games. They’re simple, they’re easy to learn and,...

Smarter innovation to shape the future

Spribe CCO Giorgi Tsutskiridze discusses the past, present a...

Facing Facts: The corner of quarterly contemplation

With Q1 reports out across the industry, Gambling Insider co...

Taking Stock: A guide to key stock prices across the industry

Gambling Insider tracks prices from some of the industry’s...

15 years of Gambling Insider: From the Founders

Over the last 15 years, Gambling Insider magazine has interv...

15 years of Gambling Insider: The Awards over time

Global Gaming Awards Event Manager Mariya Savova gives us he...