Latest Media Release
New study shows alarming rates of gambling-related suicide - Findings spark urgent call for government action
12 September 2023
Federal and State Governments must introduce significant gambling harm reforms in the wake of new research that indicates a significant percentage of suicides across Australia are related to gambling.
In The News
Strong links between gambling and suicide need to be considered in reform
New research undertaken by Federation University in collaboration with the Coroners Court of Victoria, examined the Victorian Suicide Register which revealed at least 184 suicides were directly related to gambling. There were another 17 gambling-attributed suicides by "affected others" such as family members.
The Canberra Times
20 September 2023
The Alliance as CEO Carol Bennett and Chief Advocate Tim Costello met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss gambling harm in Australia.
Excellent meetings on Monday 8 August between Alliance CEO Carol Bennett and Chief Advocate Tim Costello and Rebekha Sharkie MP, Kate Chaney MP, Zoe Daniel, and David Pocock at Parliament House, Canberra. Great to see such support for gambling reform from our independents!
September 2023 Newsletter
There is usually a lull in Canberra over the winter break from parliament, but for those of us working towards gambling reform, this has been a very busy period. The Federal Parliament is now focusing on gambling reform, especially in the wake of the federal inquiry into online gambling and its impact on those experiencing gambling harm. Change is on the way.
Tim and I had the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese to discuss the reforms and the Alliance’s views on the government’s response to the inquiry report. We have also met with the Leader of the Federal Opposition, Peter Dutton; Office of the Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland; Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth; federal crossbench MPs and Greens Senator Janet Rice to discuss the way forward on online gambling.
Significant and Meaningful gambling reform in Victoria announced
The Alliance has welcomed the changes to poker machine regulation in Victoria announced on Sunday 16 July 2023, declaring they will make a significant difference in reducing gambling harm in the State.
The Victorian reforms announced include mandatory venue closures for every pub and club’s gambling area from 4am to 10am, the introduction of carded play with set loss limits of no more than $100 loaded at a time and reducing to 3 seconds the spin rates on new machines among other reforms to education, training and counselling services.
Carolyn Crawford, now in her 70s, is an advocate for gambling reform. Credit: Paul Jeffers/AAP
I am extremely pleased with the announcement today of the changes to opening hours, mandatory pre-commitment, and reduced spin rates. If these changes had been in place when I was gambling, I would not have ended up in prison, Carolyn said.
Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister Melissa Horne and Alliance lived experience advocate, Carolyn Crawford (centre) at the launch of the reforms. Credit: Supplied/Victorian Government
You win some, you lose more – online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.
The Alliance’s response to the recommendations
The Alliance welcomes the long-awaited work of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs Report of the inquiry into online gambling and its impacts on those experiencing gambling harm.
Read report here: You win some, you lose more – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)
Read our Inquiry into online gambling and its impact on those experiencing gambling harm submission
The Alliance for Gambling Reform (The Alliance) has been concerned about the impact of gambling-like features in both computer games and phone apps for many years. It is not only one element of Australian children being groomed to become gamblers, but it is also being impacted by harm very similar and on-par with gambling harm due to loot boxes. There are a number of useful studies as well as international case studies that provide the Australian Government with the evidence it needs to go further when it comes to classifications of video games, and the Alliance would strongly urge the government to ensure this legislation includes phone apps. READ MORE
TAKE ACTION
END GAMBLING HARM AFTER DARK
The risk of gambling harm from poker machines increases after dark. We know that the high levels of harm being experienced by people in the late hours of the night and early hours of the morning are avoidable.
Click here to learn more and take action
CALLING FOR AN END TO GAMBLING ADS
It's time to kick gambling ads out of sport!
Sign the petition and find out more about how you can stand with us to end gambling ads here!
INQUIRY INTO ONLINE GAMBLING AND ITS IMPACTS ON THOSE EXPERIENCING GAMBLING HARM
nline gambling participation has increased exponentially over the past few years and the true extent of its impacts and reach are still being fully understood. However, the evidence available shows significant gambling harm being experienced online by young people and vulnerable community groups with a significant increase in online wagering companies profits over the past few years. Click here to learn more and take action
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Rev Tim Costello
Chief Advocate
Some of our largest companies and investment funds have a vested interest in poker machine gambling. Governments want few restraints given that $5.5 billion flow into their coffers every year. This is a difficult problem to unlock. Many Australians have a stake in the future of the gambling industry through their superannuation, equity investments and participation in clubs and pubs.
Over the past twenty years this is an industry that has been unleashed on Australia, without reasonable regulatory controls or even a genuine community conversation.
STAND WITH US AGAINST POKER MACHINES DESIGNED TO ADDICT
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Latest News
Strong links between gambling and suicide need to be considered in reform
The Canberra Times
20 Sept 2023
New research undertaken by Federation University in collaboration with the Coroners Court of Victoria, examined the Victorian Suicide Register which revealed at least 184 suicides were directly related to gambling. There were another 17 gambling-attributed suicides by "affected others" such as family members.
New analysis on link between gambling and suicide
ABC Listen
12 Sept 2023
New research has shed light on the link between gambling and suicide, after analysis of Coroner's Court cases in Victoria.
Advocates for gambling reform say it supports anecdotal evidence of what they're seeing on the ground, and they're calling for urgent action from state and federal governments.
Carol Bennett on Gold Coast Breakfast
ABC Gold Coast
14 Sept 2023
Alliance CEO Carol Bennett comments on the legislation to be introduced by the Anthony Albanese Labor Government to Parliament today which include a ban on credit card payments and fines for companies who don’t enforce it. While these reforms are significant, we would like to see them include lotteries ABC Gold Coast
Pokies reforms: Clubs push for review of ‘dated’ self-exclusion programs
The Age
11 Sept 2023
Alliance for Gambling Reform chief executive Carol Bennett said her organisation would welcome improvements.
She said a mishmash of different jurisdictions and gambling companies running their own programs had led to huge failures.
“There is a mismatch between the technology and some of these very outdated schemes that don’t really do what they were intended to do or have found to be in breach of the very purpose they were set up,” Bennett said.
“It really is an area that is very important to people who are harmed by gambling ... They need to feel confident in the system and, at the moment, it’s hard to say that.”
Advocates welcome gambling credit ban, but question lotto exemption
The New Daily
13 Sept 2023
Carol Bennett, CEO of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, told The New Daily that Australians are the biggest online gamblers in the world.
“This is great legislation in the sense it addresses the need for a ban on credit, digital wallets and digital currencies,” she said.
“These are things that mean people are gambling with money they simply don’t have to lose.”
