Gold Coast leads state in gambling losses, outstripping Ipswich and Logan

Queensland punters racked up $3.2 billion in gambling losses over the past year, new figures show. Three southeast Queensland areas topped the losses. CHECK YOUR AREA

A Queensland Audit report has found gambling losses in Queensland are on the rise in places such as Gold Coast, Ipswich and Logan. Source: Library

Punters in the Gold Coast, Ipswich and Logan recorded the highest gambling losses in the state last year, startling figures from a recent Queensland Audit Office report has revealed.

The audit report, based on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Queensland’s Department of Justice, also revealed total pokies losses last year reached $3.242 billion.

The big winner was the State Government, which collected $1.9 billion in gambling taxes and levies in the 2022-23 financial year.

Pokies in clubs and hotels made up 52 per cent of that revenue. Lotteries added another 20 per cent.

The report found The Department of Justice and Attorney-General had made progress in tackling gambling harm, including releasing a harm minimisation plan.

But the report found the department could do more to improve prevention, support and treatment for gamblers, making 10 recommendations to the Justice Department.

They included comprehensively assessing the long-term funding needed to deliver an effective harm minimisation plan.

The government is the biggest winner from pokies, a new report shows.

“Over the past five years the funding for harm minimisation has not kept pace with the increase in problem gambling nor the significant increase in gambling revenue,” the report said.

“Gambling taxes and levies have increased by $578 million, or 43.4 per cent, between 2018–19 and 2022-23.

“Despite this, the department has not received additional funding to deliver a harm minimisation plan, except for a one-off injection of $3.4 million.”

Justice Department director general Jasmina Joldic welcomed the report’s recommendations to protect punters and regulate the industry, saying there was agreement in principle on both areas.

The statistics showed some punters were blowing large chunks of the median weekly household income of $1675 on gambling.

The loss per adult was estimated at $796 a year.

The Gold Coast, known for its vibrant tourism and entertainment scene, stood out with the highest total pokies losses at $447 million.

Source: ABS and Qld Justice Department

Despite a relatively high median weekly household income of $1692, the Gold Coast reported a per adult loss of $864.

Ipswich and Logan–Beaudesert had total pokies losses of $242 million and $232 million, respectively.

Ipswich had a higher median weekly household income ($1615) than Logan–Beaudesert ($1593) but similar pokies losses per adult, at $861 and $853 respectively.

Source: Queensland Audit Office

The Sunshine Coast was fourth on the list with a total pokies loss of $231 million.

It had the second-most number of pokies in the state, 3466 registered machines. Average gambling losses per adult were $708.

Brisbane South had the highest total pokies losses in the city, at $226 million.

Queensland has more than 40,000 registered pokie machines. Picture: Library

Of the state’s 40,124 registered pokies machines, the southside was home to 2191.

There were 5350 on the Gold Coast, 2343 in Ipswich and 2105 in Logan.

Despite a relatively high median weekly household income of $2022, the report showed the southside had per-adult losses of $770 and 2191 operating pokies.

Brisbane North was not far behind with total pokies losses of $140 million.

Brisbane East and Brisbane Inner City reported total pokies losses of $133 million and $131 million, respectively.

Wide Bay, Cairns, and Moreton Bay had total pokies losses of $214 million, $196 million and $183 million, respectively.

Central Queensland, Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday and Townsville reported total losses of $161 million, $158 million and $153 million, respectively.

Gambling was more of a problem in regions including Outback North, Mackay–Isaac–Whitsunday and Far North Queensland because of high losses per adult, lower median household incomes and a higher density of gambling venues.

The report said the uneven spread of wealth across the state highlighted the need for tailored strategies to address the impact of gambling on different communities.