Roy Morgan Gambling Currency Report reveals the betting habits of Tasmanians

A new report has revealed the gambling habits of Tasmanians.

TASMANIA has the lowest betting participation rate in the nation, new research shows.

The Roy Morgan Gambling Currency Report found from October 2018 to September 2019, only 4.7 per cent of adult Tasmanians had placed a bet.

The national average was 9.6 per cent.

Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said, in general, participation in betting had been in decline for many years.

“The exception is sports betting, which has experienced an increase over the past 12 to 18 months even as betting on racing has declined,” she said.

The report also found that 13.5 per cent of adult Tasmanians had played a poker machine in an average three-month period.

The was slightly above the national average of 12.3 per cent, but behind the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales.

New legislation on the future of gaming in Tasmania is expected to be introduced to parliament this year.

As it promised before the 2018 election, the State Government will move to end the Federal Group monopoly over the state’s poker machines.

Instead, pubs and clubs will be allowed to hold individual licences for poker machines from July 2023.

Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said: “Clearly, poker machines are the primary driver of socio-economic harm, causing devastating impacts to individual addicts and their families.

“In his first statement as Premier, Mr Gutwein said he wanted a more compassionate Tasmania, where no one gets left behind.

“If this is what the new Premier really wants, he needs an immediate rethink on pokies.”