Gambling study underplays real impacts

NSW Greens Media Release 31 May 2007

Greens MP and gambling spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has warned the Iemma government and clubs and pubs lobby against using a new AC Nielson study to downplay the seriousness of the gambling epidemic and avoid responsibility for acting to reduce problem gambling in NSW.

"The study, while helpful, employs a relatively conservative screening tool that relies on self-reporting rather than clinically assessing whether a person is a problem gambler. The tool amplifies the potential for under-reporting and the survey fails to pick up binge gamblers," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The study also uses a very small sample size (5,000), compared to similar studies in Queensland (30,000) and South Australia (17,000).

"Even considering the real potential for under-reporting, this study paints a disturbing picture of problem gambling.

"Talking in percentages hides the human face of problem gambling. The study shows 1 in 125 people or 54,640 people in NSW are problem gamblers. One in 20 people are at risk of problem gambling, or 341,500 people.

"The study also highlights the devastating ripple effect of problem gambling.

"32 percent of people surveyed had been impacted one way or another from someone else's gambling problem. At least one in ten gamblers across the risk groups admitted to not spending money on groceries so that they could gamble.

"The study also shows gamblers have significant health problems, with over 53% of 'problem gamblers' having significant depression.

"The government, by refusing to take a public health approach to gambling, is failing to stop the drift to problem gambling by working with 'low' or 'moderate' risk gamblers.

"Canadian research shows those in low risk categories often move rapidly to become high risk gamblers.

"The government should be directing more resources to support partners, families and friends who most problem gamblers first turn to for help.

"The Greens NSW renew our call for the Iemma government to stop taking donations from clubs and pubs, wean itself off gambling revenue and reduce the number of pokie machines in NSW which this study shows are the true culprit in problem gambling," Ms Rhiannon said.

Contact: Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

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