Tasmanian pokies losses revealed for 2022-23, gambling reform advocates call for crackdown

Losses on poker machines skyrocketed in Tasmania in 2022-23 and advocates say there’s never been a better time for the state to introduce “nation-leading” new measures to reduce the harms associated with problem gambling.

Tasmanians lost almost $200 million on poker machines in pubs and clubs last year. Picture: FILE/Creative Commons

New figures showing Tasmanians lost almost $200 million on poker machines in pubs and clubs last year have strengthened the case for introducing a cashless pokies card with loss limits, advocates for gambling reform say.

Data prepared for the Alliance for Gambling Reform (AFGR) by the Gambling and Social Determinants Unit at Monash University has revealed that Tasmanians squandered $189.6m on pokies in the 2022-23 financial year – a 10.5 per cent increase compared to 2018-19, which was the last year to be unaffected by Covid restrictions.

The losses were even greater in mainland states, soaring by 34 per cent in South Australia ($917.5 million lost), 34 per cent in Queensland ($3.2 million lost), 24 per cent in NSW ($8 million lost), and 12 per cent in Victoria ($3 million lost).

Tasmanians lost almost $200 million on poker machines in pubs and clubs last year. Photo: Max Fleet / NewsMail

Overall, Australians blew $14.5 billion on the pokies last financial year, a 13.7 per cent increase on losses recorded in 2018-19.

The team at Monash measured losses in five states. The AFGR said figures for the ACT and the Northern Territory were not available. Poker machines are not allowed in pubs and clubs in Western Australia.

“Australians already lose more to poker machines per capita than any other country in the world [and] these staggering new loss figures show an industry that is out of control. These figures don’t even count poker machine losses in our casinos,” AFGR CEO Carol Bennett said.

The Tasmanian government has announced it will introduce a mandatory precommitment and cashless gaming card that will require pokies players to register for a card with preset default limits that can be lowered by players.

Kristie Johnston independent member for Clark. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Independent Clark MHA Kristie Johnston said pokies were “dangerous” and it was “unsurprising that losses are increasing all the time and will continue”.

She said a precommitment scheme was “essential” and evidence showed it would “make a real different in bringing down poker machine losses”.

Independent Clark MHR Andrew Wilkie described the proposed precommitment scheme as “a fabulous development” and said he hoped other governments in Australia would follow Tasmania’s lead.

However, he added that rising pokies losses in the state were “cause for serious concern”.

Treasurer Michael Ferguson said the Rockliff government’s “nation-leading” proposal would be rolled out in all hotels, clubs and casinos by the end of 2024.

Treasurer Michael Ferguson. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“There will be minimal impact on recreational gamblers, while those most at risk of gambling harm will be provided increased protection,” he said.

Labor finance spokesman Dean Winter said the Opposition’s stance on the precommitment card remained the same and that “the onus is now squarely on the government to do what they said they would do and implement these reforms”.

When Mr Ferguson announced the new scheme in September last year, the Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA) said it amounted to a broken promise to the industry.

“Freedom and choice have been sacrificed by the Rockliff Liberal Cabinet at the expense of a fair go,” THA CEO Steve Old said at the time.

Originally published as Tasmanian pokies losses revealed for 2022-23, gambling reform advocates call for crackdown