Gold Coast pokies: $75.6 million gambling blowout after restrictions lifted

Experts say there could be a troubling reason for a massive surge in the amount of money poured into pokies on the Gold Coast.

GOLD COAST gamblers have splurged $75.6 million on pokies since state COVID-19 restrictions lifted - the highest amount spent on city gaming machines in a decade.

Since COVID-19 restrictions on pokies lifted in July, local spend on machines for the month of August skyrocketed 19.6 per cent - or a further $6.5 million more - on last year.

Experts are speculating the jump could be due to a rush by cash businesses and also illicit drugs related laundering for tax purposes once pokies reopened after a four-month shutdown.

State Government gambling data for July shows a record-breaking spend of $37.6 million on pokies on the Gold Coast, and $38 million in August - the highest recorded monthly spends on the Glitter Strip since the data was first collected in 2004.

The gambling binge follows four months of no pokies after they were ordered to be closed due to the pandemic in March.

At the time many experts believed it would give problem gamblers space to kick the habit, with some suggestions it could lead to a lower spend when gambling reopened.

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Gambling and Social Determinants Unit head Charles Livingstone and senior lecturer of School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash said the high spend rate was unlikely to be sustained.

“When people are stressed out they are more likely to head off and spend money on gambling which could add to the jump,” Dr Livingstone said.

“We also shouldn’t dismiss the amount of money laundering that takes place through pokies.

“Studies have found a lot of people with cash in hand businesses both legitimate and drug related use pokies to cover for tax reasons, the influx could be because that money has been sitting there a while during the closures.”

Dr Livingstone said he was also yet to see any evidence the increased gambling spend is linked to the JobKeeper and JobSeeker bump.

“It is not entirely government handouts, evidence shows we are actually seeing more of that money go towards groceries. I really think it is a combination of things, even people who have sat on money at home for some time.

“Sure there are people addicted to pokies but like anything, when you put a lid on something then take it off you will see a surge for a short time.”

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A spokesperson for support service Relationships Australia Queensland said they were concerned by the recent report that indicates record spending in recent months at the pokies on the Gold Coast.

“While we can’t comment on the specific factors that contributed to this rise, we do know that Queenslanders have faced a number of significant challenges during 2020.”

“When venues on the Gold Coast re-opened after the COVID-19 measures eased, RAQ counsellors noticed an increase in demand for gambling support counselling with new clients bookings coming in every day – and it’s not just the gamblers, but also their mothers and fathers, spouses, and ex-spouses etc. seeking help.”

Queensland gamblers saved a bit of cash in the month of March saving millions as venues closed due to COVID-19. Pic Chris Pavlich.

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QUEENSLAND gamblers have backed one winner with the tight coronavirus restrictions – they’ve saved $60 million on the punt.

State Government data for March shows gambling spending dropped 18 per cent ($60,723,123) on the same time last year.

Closures for licenced venues and casinos were introduced nationwide on March 23 as part of the COVID-19 restrictions, but many smaller venues chose to close earlier.

In the past 12 months, Gold Coasters spent $344 million on gaming machines.

The latest figures show a 30-35 per cent drop in spending on keno, pokies and wagering while casino spending jumped by 45 per cent in March – the best intake for casinos for that month in five years.

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Queensland gamblers saved a bit of cash in the month of March saving millions as venues closed due to COVID-19. Pic Chris Pavlich.

Charles Livingstone, the head of Gambling and Social Determinants Unit and senior lecturer of School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash, said a number of factors could be responsible for the increase in casino spending.

“We could have seen a wave of people move from smaller venues into casinos as smaller venues closed earlier,” Dr Livingstone said.

“It might be that people knew the lock downs were coming and had decided to go all out.

“There may also be an element of laundering.”

Former Clubs Queensland communications manager Laura Bos said community clubs noticed a customer decline in early March.

“Clubs are the hub of the local community, so when the community started social distancing it is easy to see how the numbers played out in March, before the total closures,” said Ms Bos, now managing director at Patrocinium.

“In terms of the revenue going forward no doubt local communities that rely on the support of their community club are going to suffer.”

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Gambling rehab service Day Hab said more clients had come through the doors since restrictions began easing.

“People can’t believe how much money they have saved, but now want to keep their good habits going as restrictions ease,” a spokesman said.

Day Hab has a clinic in Melbourne and is waiting to reopen on the Gold Coast.

“We run an outpatient clinic on the Coast but can’t take people from Queensland until border closures are over.”

Alliance for Gambling Reform executive director Tony Mohr said while there had been a shift toward online gambling, it was not huge.

“Online gambling has increased by a smaller margin,” he said. “The online is nothing compared to pokie machines.

“Outlets to gamble aren't necessarily interchangeable for addicts.

“The increase would have to have been tenfold to replace the power of the pokies.

“In all, the reaction has been a positive one. Many people have used this time to take stock and reset. It can be a very good argument for gambling reform.”