As Gambling Harm Awareness Week ends, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has called on the ACT Government to minimise harm from gambling for all Canberrans, including people who face vulnerability and disadvantage.
“As we begin to emerge from lockdown, it is likely that gambling in the ACT will increase drastically as pubs and clubs reopen,” said ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell.
ACTCOSS wants to reduce the number of poker machines in the ACT; to limit access to cash in gambling venues; to introduce a $1 bet limit on poker machines and limit loads up to $100; to ban poker machine operations between 2am and 10am; and to increase the transparency of the community contributions scheme – all recommendations of the Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance (CGRA).
Canberra Daily contacted Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Gaming, for a response.
His party, the ACT Greens, promised to create a network of poker-free community clubs across the ACT by offering financial support and incentives for poker-free venues. The Greens’ Parliamentary Agreement with ACT Labor also commits to reducing the number of electronic gaming machine licences to 3,500 by 2025, and to limit the number of bets to $5 and load-ups to $100.
Earlier this year, the ACT Government gave community clubs more than $630,000 to reduce their reliance on pokies, and set up an advisory council to limit the number of poker machines and to minimise problem gambling.
However, Dr Campbell said, the council should not preclude the timely introduction of strategies to minimise the damage to individuals, families, and the broader community caused by gambling.
“Using pokies is the most effective predictor of problem gambling in the ACT – the risk of gambling harm increases the more time someone spends on pokies,” Dr Campbell said. “Prior to the pandemic, and even with the increase in online gambling, poker machines continued to cause the most significant harm to the Canberra community. That’s why we need to enact the CGRA’s recommendations as soon as possible.”
ACTCOSS also called on the Federal Government to urgently address gambling harm from online gambling, by preventing online gambling service providers from accepting payments by credit cards.
“The use of online gambling platforms also continues to grow, creating significant threats to wellbeing in our community,” Dr Campbell said. “The ability to use credit cards for online gambling exacerbates the harm that can be caused by online gambling.”
Gambling Harm Awareness Week is an opportunity to talk openly about gambling harm, how it can be prevented, and how those affected can be supported, Dr Campbell said.
“Gambling harm can be experienced in many ways such as financial harm, relationship disruption, psychological distress, cultural harm, and reduced work or study performance.”
The key signs of gambling harm include spending more time or money than intended; having less money than you should; having regrets or feeling guilty after playing; losing focus at work or social events; trying to win back your losses; spending less time with people you care about; hiding how much you play; and playing after the fun stops.
“It is crucial that people are aware of these signs, and are able to contact support networks to seek help, if needed.”
In the ACT, anyone who is concerned about their own or affected by a family member’s gambling can call 1800 858 858 for help and advice, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
