Hidden report warned Brisbane casino was causing $700m in social damage

A major study into the impact of the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf development warned the new casino would exacerbate problem gambling in Brisbane unless more was done to protect the community.

The study was part of a larger body of work commissioned by the Queensland government, costing taxpayers at least $2 million, but was never released. It has been obtained by Brisbane Times under the Right to Information Act.

Researchers estimated Treasury casino in Brisbane made 20-30 per cent of its revenue off local problem gamblers.

The QUT study, which relied on a Gambling Impacts Survey, also found 20-30 per cent of the money pouring into Treasury casino at the time came from problem gamblers who lived in Brisbane.

It cast doubt on Star Entertainment Group’s claim that Queen’s Wharf would attract international VIPs, saying existing research suggested approximately 85 per cent of patrons would live in the same state as the casino.

The government was told there was a “reasonable likelihood” that Queen’s Wharf would create an additional 300 problem gamblers in Brisbane, at least in the short-term, adding $18.4 million to the estimated $700.5 million in annual social costs.

The number of poker machines in south-east Queensland was already considered at the upper limit of what the researchers considered “safe”. Queen’s Wharf, with its hotels, apartments, restaurants, bars, venues and shops, would present a bigger drawcard.

“Asian-born residents and 25-34-year-olds appear to be particular demographic groups of interest for QWB casino, with the Asian-born group representing significant growth opportunities over the next few years,” the government was told.

“Of concern is some evidence of relatively high problem gambling rates for both of these groups, with further recruitment of these patrons potentially leading to increases in problematic gambling or harm in the longer term.”

The body of work was commissioned by the state Labor government in 2017, and the gambling impact study delivered by QUT in 2018-19.

The research was meant to be ongoing, and also assess the impact of Queen’s Wharf on tourism, business and public safety over time, but was shelved by the government without explanation.

An artist’s impression of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, which is set for a staged opening from August 2024.

Brisbane Times has previously revealed the unexplained secrecy around the aborted project, and how public servants had joined QUT researchers in calling for more government transparency.

The study noted the difficulty researchers had in accessing data, and suggested further research be done on Asian-born gamblers and the prevalence of binge gambling in Brisbane.

“Repeating the Gambling Impacts Survey prior to the opening of the [new] casino is necessary to establish a reliable baseline and could be used to pool participants from both surveys to provide greater certainty for any assessment of change post QWB opening,” the government was told.

“A modified version of the survey should also be repeated one year, and then two or five years post-opening.”

Only now, ahead of Queen’s Wharf opening in August, has the government moved to do more about problem gambling. It conducted a long-awaited gambling survey last year and will release the results midyear.

After the Queensland Audit Office this month slammed the government’s efforts to protect people from gambling-related harm, the responsible department vowed to implement its recommendations and seek more funding in the budget.

Yet the audit made clear the situation had worsened – with more people at risk, and an industry not being held to account – in the years since the QUT study was delivered to government.

“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 audit found, without referencing the QUT study.

A spokeswoman for Star Entertainment Group said the QUT study was outdated, and the company had since been subjected to major inquiries including the Gotterson Review in Queensland.

Star had improved its harm minimisation strategies, including new gambling time limits, and its as-yet unreleased remediation plan had been approved by the Queensland government. A cashless and carded play trial would also be undertaken in NSW, where the regulator has initiated a follow-up inquiry.

The spokeswoman said Star was “committed to the safety and welfare of our guests and becoming a better company operating with the highest levels of integrity”.

“Star is developing a world-class tourism and entertainment precinct in Brisbane with 7.5 hectares of public space, the Neville Bonner Bridge connecting to the South Bank cultural precinct, a myriad of restaurants and bars including Sky Deck 100 metres above the Brisbane River, multimillion-dollar public art installations and the repurposing of heritage listed buildings,” the spokeswoman said.

“The casino will make up 5 per cent of the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct.”

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