Aussie gamblers could be grateful to the coronavirus lockdown in a certain way, as it has saved them millions in the weeks of social isolation measures. Even though the situation with the Covid-19 pandemic is serious, anti-gambling campaigners find the nationwide closures of clubs and pubs that offer poker machines as a positive thing because, after the lockdown that was imposed on March 23rd, local gamblers were unable to spend money on the dangerous electronic gaming terminals.
For some time now, Australians have been reported as the biggest gamblers on a global scale and, respectively, the ones who suffer the largest losses from gambling. And this is quite a serious statement, especially considering the fact that the country has 0.3% of the global population, while the Australia Institute think tank has revealed that the nation holds 76% of the so-called club and pub pokies in the world.
On the other hand, despite the increased criticism faced by the poker machines and the authorities that still retain a relatively relaxed regime in terms of the terminals, Australian lawmakers and politicians seem to be reluctant to let go of the generous contributions generated by the gambling operators and their lobbyists, who have been claiming that their tax revenue is used to support various charity and community organisations, sports and good causes.
According to data provided by the Centre for International Economics (CIE), the taxes brought by Australian poker machines exceed AU$5.5 billion on an annual basis. The CIE further revealed that the money is being used to fund significant public infrastructure projects.
AGR Insists on Restrictions for Pokie Clubs and Pubs Even Lockdown Measures Are Relaxed
For the time being, however, pokies remain out of reach for local punters because of the nationwide lockdown that has forced all clubs and pubs offering the electronic gaming terminals to cease operation. According to data revealed by the Alliance for Gambling Reform (AGR), which is one of the largest charities aimed at helping local gambling addicts, the lockdown measures have been saving Aussie gamblers a total of AU$34.2 million daily.
Another point of view has been recently roaming around in support of the industry. According to some analysts, the shutdown of local clubs and pubs offering pokies has led to 50% to 60% growth in online gambling. On the other hand, the closures, if permanent, would lead to significant tax losses for Australian states.
The executive director of the AGR, Tony Mohr, agreed that some people who had been gambling on notorious gambling machines now shifted their focus to online gambling due to the nationwide coronavirus lockdown. Mr Mohn, however, said that if all poker machine users switched their preferences to online gambling, the increase would be in the range from 600% to 1,000%, which shows that most of them had simply stopped gambling for the period of the social isolation.
Last Friday, the country’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed that the Government could start relaxing the lockdown measures in Australia by the end of this week. After the announcement, the AGR has shared its intentions to call for the authorities not to lift the shutdown from pokie clubs and pubs. The charity organisation has already filed a petition for state governments to make sure poker machine play is restricted or reduced.
- Author
Olivia Cole
