According to the latest edition of the Social and Economic Impact Study for gaming, gambling in Tasmania continues to decline after the government introduced measures to reduce gambling harm in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Australia.- The fifth edition of\u00a0the Social and Economic Impact Study (SEIS)\u00a0<\/strong>has revealed that gambling prevalence in Tasmania has declined from 72 per cent in 2008 to 47 per cent in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report benefits from gambling of between AU$123.3m (US$92.06m) and AU$207.8m<\/strong>, and an estimated cost between AU$48.9m and AU$159.6m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Authorities said that the percentage of people with gambling problems has declined from 0.6 per cent to 0.4 per cent<\/strong>\u00a0when compared to the previous report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gamblers in Tasmania lose AU$733 a year per adult<\/strong>, while the rest of the country has an average rate of AU$1,277.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Tasmania has the lowest per capita expenditure on gambling of all Australian states,\u00a0Meg Webb<\/strong>, Nelson independent MLC and anti-pokies campaigner, said it remains high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She said: “The issue is even larger than these figures represent, which is confirmed by the\u00a0elevated losses we continue to see<\/strong>, month after month.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report showed that lottery tickets are the most popular gambling product in Tasmania\u00a0<\/strong>with 37 per cent of adults playing, while 17 per cent of people play keno, 11 per cent instant use scratchcards and only 9 per cent electronic gaming machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Member of parliament Andrew Wilkie<\/strong> said gambling participation and\u00a0spending in the state still remains concerning\u00a0<\/strong>and criticised the government for allowing the “pokies” to be placed “in the most disadvantaged parts of the state”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wilkie said 30 per cent of the poker machines in Tasmania are currently hosted in the state\u2019s poorest region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n