Welcome to our
OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
Check out all our latest updates
10/2022
Carol Bennett
Chief Executive Officer
Message from the CEO
The last couple of months have seen a significant shift in community
awareness and concern about gambling related harm across Australia.
This has followed the Royal Commission into Crown Victoria and WA
casinos and various inquiries into casinos around the country including Star
Sydney and Queensland and South Australia. The Alliance, in addition to
our ongoing media and public advocacy, has made numerous submissions
and provided witnesses to these enquiries across a number of states and
importantly, ensured that the voices of those with lived experience are
heard and heeded.
A few notable achievements in reducing gambling harm occurred. Most
significantly, the Tasmanian government has decided (and achieved
bipartisan support) to introduce mandatory pre-commitment and cashless
gambling cards. Following on from Victor Dominello’s digital wallet trial in
NSW which saw him be moved on from his responsibility in this area, it is
wonderful to see Tasmania show the leadership to introduce possibly the
most substantial harm reduction measure. We are hopeful other states will
follow suit….
The Alliance joined with local community advocates in Alice Springs to
advocate for new poker machine licenses to be rejected. The Northern
Territory government decided on a 9 month moratorium on new poker
machine licences in central Australia which is a step forward in reducing
harm in that community.
And a very welcome national parliamentary inquiry into online gambling has
been launched. With the growing impact of online gambling in our
communities, this inquiry will enable much needed exploration of the
current trends, research, lived experience of harm and possible solutions.
The Alliance will provide a submission informed by our Voices lived
experience group.
Finally, a significant report on gambling losses in 5 states arrived at a
conservative figure $11.74b which is a staggering and world leading result.
Read more about this research and the various activities on the Alliance’s
radar in this edition.
Thanks for your continuing support
Carol Bennett
Alliance for Gambling Reform CEO
Record-breaking $11B Losses
New research leads to calls to establish a national gambling regulator.
Australians lost more than $11.4 billion to poker machines in pubs and clubs across five states last year according to the first comprehensive, national analysis of available loss figures which cements Australia as the world’s biggest losers to poker machines per person.
And the researchers warn that without the pandemic restrictions, hotel and club gambling machine losses are likely to exceed $13 billion next year.
The new figures, compiled by Dr Charles Livingstone of the Gambling and Social Determinants Unit at Monash University also show that in the 30 years to 2019 (the latest available figures) poker machine losses in hotels and clubs in Australia amounted to $308.4 billion. Note that poker machines are not permitted in clubs and hotels in WA. Relevant data was also not readily available for ACT or the NT.
The chief advocate of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Tim Costello, said the losses reveal the extent of the gambling crisis that is devastating families and communities across the country, a ‘hidden epidemic’ that demands a nationally coordinated and urgent government response.
“The federal government must establish a national gambling harm regulator that can coordinate efforts to reduce the terrible toll gambling is wreaking on Australian society,” Rev Costello said.
“A regulator can bring the states together, it can progressively reduce the number of poker machines, it can fast-track harm minimisation measures such as digital wallets. At the moment there is no coordination and no will to act.”
Monash University Associate Professor Charles Livingstone, said pandemic restrictions had reduced losses in NSW and Victoria by 17% or 1.6 billion.
“Previous trends are likely to resume after the easing of pandemic restrictions with hotel and club gambling machines total expenditure for 2022-23 likely to exceed $13 billion across Australia,” Professor Livingstone said.
The annual loss of $11.4 billion in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania is the equivalent to a loss of $658 for every adult resident of those States.
Amongst people who use poker machines, average losses were $3,429 p.a. across the five states.
Our media release and key data are available here.
Federal inquiry into online gambling
The Australian House of Representatives have announced a federal inquiry into online gambling.
This is a welcome step in the right direction towards meaningful reforms that can protect our communities from the growing and harmful impacts of the complex online gambling environment.
The Terms of Reference allow the inquiry to look at online gambling holistically, from treatment, to impact on children and appropriateness of current regulations. It will even explore the impact of Facial Recognition Technology.
The Alliance will be proactively engaging in this inquiry and invites your thoughts on the issues. Please send to Tara at info@agr.org.au
Tasmania’s mandatory pre-commitment policy
The Tasmanian Government has committed to implementing a mandatory pre-commitment, cashless card scheme on all poker machines in pubs, clubs and the casinos. The Alliance has long advocated for mandatory pre-commitment on all poker machines as an evidence-based effective tool to prevent gambling harm so we applaud the Tasmanian government for taking this initiative and hope it will extend to other jurisdictions. Read our media release here
Star Casino Inquiry Outcomes
Qld and South Australia Inquiry Submissions
After months of work highlighting lived experience of gambling harm at the Star Casino, the Bell inquiry report was published. The Alliance worked closely with people harmed at Star to ensure they could tell their story of harm and have an impact on the outcomes and recommendations of Bell’s final report.
The Star Sydney were found unfit to hold their licence and the NSW Premier himself called them ‘absolutely horrendous.’ To read the report in full click here.
AGR CEO Carol Bennett provided comment on the lack of accountability for casino board members and specifically in relation to Star’s plan to continue to operate despite the inquiry findings
The Alliance for Gambling Reform has welcomed the recommendations from the Gotterson review that uncovered appalling failures at Star Casinos in Queensland. Read our media release here.
The South Australian SkyCity inquiry is still underway
The Alliance has worked with people with lived experience of gambling harm to ensure their voices continue to be heard in these inquiries and that those investigating casinos have the most up to date and robust evidence and research backing recommendations made around preventing and reducing gambling harm.
we keenly await the findings and actions taken from these inquiries.
The final Gotterson report can be found here.
Victoria
The Alliance made a submission to the Victorian Suicide Prevention and Reponse strategy last month highlighting the importance of the strategy having a dedicated focus on gambling related suicides.
You can read our submission here.
Opinion Pieces
Does Australia still lack the political courage to end gambling ads?
Tim Costello, Chief Advocate, Alliance for Gambling Reform
The Canberra Times
23/4/25
Despite being past the halfway mark of the election campaign - neither the PM or the Opposition leader has shown any appetite for banning gambling ads and reducing gambling harm.
This is despite the fact that polls now show that 76 per cent of Australians want a gambling ad ban. This is a stunning result, so the campaigning silence on this by the major parties is equally stunning.
Why gambling is now devastating more families at greater levels
Martin Thomas, CEO for the Alliance for Gambling Reform
The Canberra Times
10/3/25
In the last decade, the nature of gambling in Australia has changed profoundly and its impact on family household budgets is now greater than at any other time.
New technology, a slew of rapacious, foreign-owned gambling companies and a near catastrophic failure of regulation has allowed gambling to pervade our lives like never before and its impact is being felt deeply at the household budget level.
Tassie on front line in fight to end pokies pain
Rev Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform
The Mercury
7/11/24
This bully industry is used to getting its own way, but someone has to stop it, writes Tim Costello.
I know something about the power and fury of the NSW pokies industry. I remember pulling out of a public debate in Sydney, when former MP Peter Garrett and I were warned by the Federal Police they could not protect us from angry pokies crowds.
Time to tell our leaders we want gambling reform
Tim Costello, Chief Advocate, Alliance for Gambling Reform
1/4/25
I have campaigned over decades for gambling reform.
It started way, way back when I was in law and I met a lovely, elderly woman who shockingly was facing jail for stealing to feed her gambling habit.
The NRL going to Las Vegas is proof gambling steers our sports
Rev Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform
The Canberra Times
24/2/25
The NRL will next month be again hosting its opening round in Las Vagas.
And if ARL Commission Chair Peter V'landys's grand plan comes to fruition, President Trump may also be there to make rugby league great again.
The AFL and NRL are pushing aside gambling harm to profit at their fans’ expense
Rev Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform
the Guardian
30/9/24
At a time when it seems every political leader is happy to join the pile-on against our two major supermarkets, there is a stunning resistance to levelling any criticism at our two major sporting codes despite their wholehearted embrace of gambling and the damage it is causing, especially during a cost-of-living crisis.
The AFL and the NRL are profiting at the expense of their supporters and embedding gambling advertising so deeply within the games that a whole new generation of supporters are indoctrinated in the odds just as much as the code.
Addictive, dangerous, out of control. Yet Labor lets betting giants win again
Martin Thomas, CEO for the Alliance for Gambling Reform
The Canberra Times
8/8/24
Never pick a fight with anyone who buys ink by the barrel and paper by the ton.
This, now rather antiquated quote, often attributed to Mark Twain was a warning about the power of the then newspaper barons.
While the technology has changed, the media barons of Australia still wield unholy power in the Australian political landscape today.
It is why the Albanese government has agonised for more than year over the recommendations of the Murphy Report, 31 recommendations that come from a parliamentary inquiry chaired by one of their very own, Peta Murphy who lost her battle with cancer last year.
The easy, popular measure that could cut households costs missing from the budget
Martin Thomas, CEO for the Alliance for Gambling Reform
The Canberra Times
27/3/25
Yet there is a major cost-of-living initiative that is low cost, non-inflationary and would tackle an issue that is a bigger drain on the household budget than power bills.
But it is not in the budget and most likely it won't be in the opposition's budget reply speech either.
Lessons from NSW's transport gambling ad ban
Martin Thomas, CEO for the Alliance for Gambling Reform
6/2/25
As Parliament returns to Canberra this week, NSW's recent decision to remove gambling advertisements from public transport offers an important lesson in what meaningful reform looks like. It's a reminder that change happens not through rhetoric alone but through decisive action backed by a clear purpose.
In the life of every PM there is one real test. This is Albo’s moment to be up there with Howard
Rev Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform
27/8/24
There are moments in every prime minister’s life where they face real tests. How they respond in those moments indelibly shapes their government’s future, and their legacy as either a true leader or a partisan plodder.
For John Howard, the test came just a few weeks into his first term of government, following the Port Arthur massacre.
Reaping the whirlwind of a new generation hooked on gambling
Martin Thomas, CEO for the Alliance for Gambling Reform
The Canberra Times
15/7/24
Sports betting has exploded in Australia.
New figures show the numbers of people betting on sport has doubled in the last five years alone.
Today more than a quarter of all men aged 18-24 and a third of men aged 25-34 now bet on sport.
In The News
Young men, gambling, and harm: A call to action
YourLifeChoices
New findings have shed light on just how far-reaching the effects of gambling really are—not just for those placing the bets, but for the people around them and the community as a whole. A landmark ACT survey reveals 1 in 6 adults are affected by gambling harm. Young men face the highest risk, especially through pokies and online gambling. “Young men are more likely to engage in high-risk forms of gambling—and they’re the most likely to experience harm from their own gambling,” said Associate Professor Alex Russell.
Blue Light Fuels Risky Gambling
Daily Telegraph
Bright blue lights in casinos, pokie venues, and gambling websites might be driving riskier behaviour. Flinders University research reveals blue-enriched lighting dulls our sensitivity to losses, making it easier to gamble away money. “Under bright, blue-heavy light… the $100 loss didn’t appear to feel as bad,” said lead author Dr Alicia Lander. This lighting, common in gambling environments, could be quietly shaping gambling harm.
It’s time to rethink how these venues manipulate people through design. Support real reform.
NSW Govt must do more to reduce poker machine harm after damning report
The Alliance
The NSW government must act swiftly to protect the community after a damning report found it is failing to reduce harm from poker machines across the state’s pubs and clubs which cost $8.4billion in losses in just one year.
The NSW Auditor-General’s Regulation of Gaming Machines report also revealed the number of gaming machines across the state has increased in the past two years despite an explicit legislative push to reduce the number of machines.
Gambling Giant Tried to Gag Melbourne Man with $25,000 Offer
The Guardian
A Melbourne man says he was offered $25,000 by a gambling company—on the condition he withdraw a complaint, stay silent, and protect the company from bad press. Gordon Burns, 23, blew hundreds of thousands with no intervention from two gambling companies.
Alliance CEO Martin Thomas said: “It makes a mockery of the complaints system if this is the process that happens. Governments must do more to protect Australians.”
NSW Poker Machine Crisis: 'Virtually No Oversight' as Harm Soars
AAP
A damning report has exposed NSW's failure to protect communities from gambling harm. The state’s 87,749 poker machines raked in $8.4 billion last year—yet just two high-risk venues had their licences reviewed since 2019.
Martin Thomas, CEO of The Alliance, said: "NSW already has more poker machines than any other jurisdiction, more than almost any other part of the world, so it is appalling that the numbers of machines is still increasing despite the rhetoric about reducing the number of machines."
While venues profit, western Sydney communities are losing entire salaries to poker machines.
Headline: 85% of Aussies Want Gambling Ads Banned — Time for Action
Rob Cameron's Front Page
“The latest research is showing that 85% want some form of restrictions on gambling advertising… even those who vent tell us they're so sick of the amount of ads.” – Martin Thomas, CEO of The Alliance
Despite this, the federal government remains silent. We're calling for a total ban on gambling ads—just like we did with tobacco. Too many are losing homes, lives, and futures. It's time to end this harm.
🎧 Listen to Alliance CEO Martin Thomas discuss this issue at length with Rob Cameron on Front Page.
The Plan to Ban Gambling Ads Exists — So Why Won’t the Government Act?
The National Account
Most Australians want gambling ads gone — and the Murphy Report lays out a 31-step plan to do just that. But two years on, the government still hasn’t responded. Why? According to The Alliance’s Chief Advocate Tim Costello: “It’s not the public that’s the problem here. It’s the vested interests.” Powerful players like the AFL, NRL, and big broadcasters are profiting — while children are exposed and harmed.
It's time to prioritise health over profit. The public is ready. The plan is ready. The delay must end.
Unfettered gambling advertising means young Australians are losing big
The New Daily
More than 900,000 teens gambled last year, thanks in part to over a million gambling ads on free-to-air TV. Online gambling now dominates, yet none of the 31 reforms from the landmark Murphy review—including a total ad ban—have been adopted. Even worse? MPs took $245,000 in sports freebies while stalling action.
“Australians do not like being flooded by messages and inducements to gamble online and worry about the effect this is having on children and young people.” – Murphy review
"Too many loopholes": BetStop fails to protect Australians from gambling harm
The Australian
The Alliance is calling out major flaws in Labor’s self-exclusion scheme, BetStop. "There’s gaps and holes in BetStop. Companies that are serious about evading the scheme can still do so," said Chief Advocate Tim Costello.
Loopholes let people keep gambling using alternate ID, while some companies ignore rules entirely. We’re demanding stronger enforcement, expansion to cover all gambling forms, and a public awareness campaign funded by gambling operators.
Events
ReThink Addiction Conference
Carol Bennett (AGR CEO), Anna Bardsley (AGR Voices for Gambling Reform Coordinator), Kate Seselja and Paul Fung
The inaugural ReThink Addiction National Convention was held in Canberra from September 12-14.
It was an historic opportunity to come together to change the conversation around addiction, including the harm caused by gambling. With a fantastic line-up of speakers including AGR's Voices: Anna Bardsley, Kate Seselja and Gavin Fineff and a closing statement from CEO Carol Bennett. It also featured a video from Three Sides of the Coin.
Read more about the conference here and here.
Carol Bennett (AGR CEO), Gavin Fineff and Anna Bardsley (AGR Voices for Gambling Reform Coordinator)
Tim’s Mornington peninsula Event
Ken (Voices for Gambling Reform, lived experience advocate), Joy (Uniting Church), Rose O’Leary (Reform and Advocacy, AGR), and Rev Tim Costello (Chief Advocate, AGR).
The Mornington Peninsula community has lost $45 million to poker machines in the past six months, eight per cent more than before the COVID pandemic. Chief Advocate Rev Tim Costello and Rose O’Leary, our advocacy and policy manager discussed these escalating losses and the high number of machines within the municipality at a free forum last month at St Marks Uniting Church, Barkly Street, Mornington. @MPnews 👉 https://www.mpnews.com.au/2022/08/15/gamblers-lose-big-post-covid/
Progress in Poker Machine Reform Seminar: Geelong
Geelong has experienced record breaking losses of over $11.6M in July 2022; having lost over 2.3B in the 30 years since poker machines were introduced to Victoria.
Come along on Sunday 9 October to hear from our Chief Advocate, Rev Tim Costello discuss gambling harm, the latest poker machine reforms and what can be done to prevent and reduce further harm from gambling.
The event commences at 2pm at St Luke’s Uniting Church, Highton; with an afternoon tea provided.
Join our team
We’re hiring! Join our dynamic team as our new Supporters and Councils Coordinator!
Working to prevent and reduce gambling harm in Australia, you’ll be working with a range of organisations and local councils.
This full-time role provides the opportunity to lead and engage with key stakeholders and make a real difference in gambling reform.
We are inviting you to become an Alliance for Gambling Reform Supporter
Our kids are growing up in a world awash with gambling ads, major sports are controlled by pro-gambling interests, Australians dominate the global ladder of leading poker machine losses, and it seems you can only run a casino in Australia if you are unfit to hold a casino licence.
But little by little, the Alliance for Gambling Reform is challenging the power of the gambling industry in Australia.
We are inviting you to become a Gambling Reform Supporter and enable us
to continue this critical work.
Join us and help change the way gambling is impacting our families and communities.
The Alliance is an independent charity reliant on donations and supporters to continue the work we do. The need for our work has grown substantially over the last few years so we need your help to ensure we are able to grow with the critical need for change!
Financially we are a drop in the ocean compared to the gambling industry, yet this movement is picking up pace and thanks to you, change is happening.
All donations are tax-deductible.
Please note that we are legally obliged to record contact details such as your address and name. We also ask for your email and phone number so we can supply you with a receipt of your donation and to thank you for your support. We will never share your information with anyone outside the Alliance unless obligated to do so under the law.
You can also see all the latest media featuring the Alliance for Gambling Reform via our website.
You can also view our latest Media Releases.