Grattan Institute, an Australian public policy think tank, has released a report related to how Australia can prevent gambling harm.
The report, called ‘A better bet: How Australia should prevent gambling harm,’ has made a number of recommendations.
According to figures in the report, Australia leads the world when it comes to average annual losses per adult for gambling at AU$1,635 (US$1,098.90), which is more than the likes of the US (AU$809) and New Zealand (AU$584).
It is stated that most of the losses in Australia come as a result of pokies and sports betting.
As such, recommendations from the report include banning all gambling advertising and inducements, reducing the number of pokies in each state over time, and having a mandatory pre-commitment system for online gambling and mandatory pre-commitment for pokies with daily, monthly and annual limits on losses.
Grattan Institute CEO Aruna Sathanapally said: “Australia has let the gambling industry run wild, and gamblers, their families and the broader community are paying the price.
“Gambling products are designed to be addictive and the consequences can be catastrophic: job loss, bankruptcy, relationship breakdown, family violence, even suicide. It’s time our politicians stood up to the powerful gambling lobby and reined the industry in.
“Federal and state governments should take on the vested interests and work together in the interests of all Australians to make gambling a safer, better bet.”
Banning gambling ads in Australia is a key point of discussion at the moment, with last month seeing Australia’s Alliance for Gambling Reforms send an open letter, which included a number of signatures from prominent figures, calling for a ban on gambling ads.
