Gambling Impact Society

Dear Prime Minister,

I am deeply concerned the number of people with severe gambling problems across Australia is estimated to be around 150,000 with another 350,000 at moderate risk . I also understand that for every one person suffering from this health issue there are 5-10 other people negatively affected (Productivity Commission Report, 2010). The impacts of problem gambling include suicides, relationship breakdown, bankruptcy, lowered productivity, job losses, depression and crime. I am also aware that problem gambling has a negative impact on child health in those families affected and that young people are increasingly at risk of developing gambling problems.

I welcome the commitment that you have made to introduce an effective and universal system to allow gamblers to set loss and time limits on pokies. I urge you not to give in to gambling industry lobbying aimed at undermining this commitment.

I also welcome your commitment to make the existing ban on internet based pokies and casinos more effective.

I further ask that you reduce the suffering caused by problem gambling, by:

• setting the maximum a gambler can lose on the pokies to $1 per button push;

• limiting opening hours of pokie areas in venues to between 10 am and midnight;

• banning ATMs in pokie venues; and

• reining in aggressive marketing by online wagering and sports betting companies.

Yours sincerely,