Australian gambling policies have always been a subject of intense scrutiny given their impact on public health and well-being. This is especially true for electronic gambling machines (EGMs), which are ubiquitous in Australia, save for Western Australia where they are only found in casinos. A recent study set out to evaluate the impact of policy changes on EGMs in community venues in an Australian jurisdiction. Specifically, it focused on how the introduction of note acceptors to EGMs and an increase in the number of permissible EGMs in community venues have affected user losses.
The Northern Territory Government made two significant policy changes concerning EGMs. The first was the introduction of note acceptors on EGMs in community venues, while the second was an increase in the cap from 10 to 20 in hotels and 45 to 55 in clubs. These amendments were notable as they directly affected accessibility and potential player engagement with EGMs.
This article analyzes this complex issue while citing the works of Stevens Matthew M and Livingstone Charles C from the respected BMC Public Health publication, with the DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6814-1.
The Study
The study in question was published in “BMC Public Health” and sought to track changes in EGM user losses per adult, per EGM gambler, and per EGM problem/moderate-risk gambler between 2005 and 2015. It presented trends in venue numbers, EGM numbers, user losses, and user losses per EGM by venue type and size, to determine if the policy changes had a considerable effect on user losses. The researchers used data from the 2005 and 2015 Northern Territory gambling surveys and applied a set of assumptions to derive their conclusions.
Key Findings
One of the striking observations was that from 2010 (after the introduction of the smoking ban) to 2013, real user losses were stagnant. Subsequently, from 2013 to 2017, there was a significant increase in real user losses in community venues, particularly in clubs and hotels that hosted the maximum allowable number of EGMs. During the same period, user losses in the two casinos declined by 13%.
Between 2005 and 2015, the study estimated that user losses per problem and moderate-risk gambler on EGMs increased by 5% and 34%, respectively. This data suggests that the policy changes regarding EGMs have likely contributed to an increase in gambling losses among vulnerable populations.
Implications and Recommendations
The evidence presented in the study strongly indicates that reducing the amount of money that gamblers can load into EGMs and eliminating note acceptors, as well as reducing the number of EGMs in venues, would likely reduce harm from EGM usage. Furthermore, given the challenge of identifying and implementing effective harm prevention and minimization interventions at individual jurisdiction level, a national approach to gambling regulation in Australia was advocated.
The study also recommended that coordinated national research, particularly on EGMs and online betting, is necessary to better understand the effects of gambling policy on related harms.
Ethics and Consent
The study reported receiving ethics approval from various committees and detailed that verbal consent was attained from participants during surveys, aligning with ethical research standards.
Wider Context and Ongoing Debate
The results of this study feed into the ongoing debate on how best to manage and regulate EGMs – colloquially known as “pokies” – in Australia. They underscore the complex relationship between gambling policies, player behavior, and harm. The conversation spans public health concerns, individual freedoms, and economic considerations, making it clear that any policy changes must be carefully considered and balanced against the broader societal impact.
Keywords
1. Electronic Gambling Machines Policy
2. EGM User Losses
3. Australia Gambling Policy
4. Harm Minimization Gambling
5. Public Health Gambling Studies
References
1. Stevens M.M, Livingstone C.C. (2019). Evaluating Changes in Electronic Gambling Machine Policy on User Losses in an Australian Jurisdiction. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 517. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6814-1.
2. Productivity Commission. (2010). Gambling: Productivity Commission Inquiry, Volume 1, Report No. 50. Canberra: Australian Government.
3. Breen R.B, Zimmerman M. (2002). Rapid onset of pathological gambling in machine gamblers. J Gambl Stud, 18(1), 31–43. DOI: 10.1023/A:1014580112648.
4. Markham F, Doran B, Young M. (2016). The relationship between electronic gaming machine accessibility and police-recorded domestic violence: a spatio-temporal analysis of 654 postcodes in Victoria, Australia, 2005–2014. Soc Sci Med, 162, 106–114. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.06.008.
5. Livingstone C. (2017). AGRC discussion paper. Melbourne: Australian Gambling Research Centre. How electronic gambling machines work: EGM structural characteristics.
Conclusion
The study contributes valuable insight into the consequences of gambling policy changes in Australia and underscores the necessity for evidence-based policy to ensure that public health is prioritized over economic incentives. The findings advocate for stricter national regulations on EGMs and a stronger commitment to research on the impacts of gambling, which can form the basis for enhanced harm minimization strategies. It is a step forward in shaping policies that reduce gambling-related harm while balancing the complexity of stakeholders’ interests within the Australian gambling landscape.