The latest statistics released by the Queensland government reveal that in the 2022-23 financial year, Queenslanders lost a total of $5.1 billion to gambling.
It has marked an 11.3 percent increase from the previous year’s losses of $4.6 billion.
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The figures also surpass the losses of $4.3 billion recorded in 2018-19, which was the last financial year before the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the landscape.
The electronic gaming machines were the main cause, accounting for 63. 2 per cent of the total losses in the last financial year, while casino losses amounted to nearly $800 million.
Additionally, Queenslander lost around $642.1 million through lotteries and $313.8 million through wagering.
Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath told ABC that a range of factors could contribute to increased gambling activities.
“It’s difficult to predict future gambling expenditure trends with certainty, given the range of factors that may contribute to these trends,” she said.
She said the government is committed to addressing gambling harm, highlighting the $7.8 million allocated to Gambling Help Queensland in this year’s state budget.
Queensland has already implemented measures to curb excessive gambling, including a $100 cash load-up limit and a minimum spin rate of three seconds per game for gaming machines.
“And as of July this year, 97 per cent of Queensland venues observe a shutdown period of six hours from 4am.”
The government is also working on making cashless gaming mandatory for transactions exceeding $1000 in Queensland casinos.
Carol Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of Alliance for Gambling Reform, said the latest figures was “incredible” and urged the government to introduce additional measures to further protect local communities from gambling harm and excruciating losses.
“At the end of the day, we need to see both the federal government and the state governments really make this a national priority.”
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