87% of regular pokies gamblers surveyed are experiencing harm, according to new research by the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC). Findings from the national study support a midnight shut down of pokies venues, and further limiting the length of time people can gamble on poker machines before taking a break.
More than 2,500 people who gambled at least monthly on poker machines were surveyed in 2023 as part of the National Gambling Trends Study by the AGRC at the Australian Institute of Family Studies. The new report highlights how some of the recently implemented measures of state and territory governments could be strengthened.
Pubs and clubs in Victoria, NSW and the Northern Territory are required to shut their gambling areas daily from 4am to 10am. However, of those pokies gamblers surveyed who were experiencing high levels of harm, 15% reported their most recent pokies session was between 12am and 4am - indicating an earlier shut-down could be more effective in reducing harm.
Also, several casinos have recently been required to introduce mandatory 15-minute breaks after 3 hours of pokies gambling. However, this research shows most gambling sessions were less than 3 hours - meaning the break would not take effect for 61% of those experiencing high levels of harm.
Research Fellow at the AGRC, Dr Nancy Greer, said while any measures to reduce pokies gambling harms are welcome, this new data confirms the current interventions by state and territory governments don't go far enough.
'This research reveals there is a 'sweet spot' for some measures - where they can focus on behaviours that are more common among those who are experiencing harms, while doing little to disrupt the activities of those who are not experiencing negative effects from their gambling,' Dr Greer said.
'Future research should dig deeper, exploring the most effective moment to intervene to reduce gambling harm as well as the type of intervention - whether that's a measure that's already in use, or something new.'
In addition to shut down times and breaks in gambling, the research points to a lowering of 'load-up' limits - the amount that can be loaded into a poker machine at one time.
Each state and territory has its own load-up limit, with South Australia ($99.99) and Western Australia ($100) the lowest. Queensland has a $100 load-up limit in clubs and hotels only, while Victoria's load-up limit in pubs and clubs will reduce to $100 in December 2025 (not applicable to Crown Casino).
Survey respondents who were at lower risk of harm generally stuck to gambling with $50 or less at a time, with amounts greater than $50 more common among people at moderate or high risk of gambling harm.
'This shows that lower load-up limits of $20 or $50 would mostly affect people experiencing high levels of gambling harm, while causing minimal impact on those who are not experiencing negative effects from their gambling,' Dr Greer said.
'Given the purpose of load up limits is to prompt a moment of reflection before someone chooses to continue gambling, making this decision after every $100 or $500 is probably too late and too infrequent for a measure like this to have a meaningful impact.'
Of the 2,565 regular pokies gamblers surveyed as part of the NGTS study:
- 87% reported experiencing gambling harms - including, for example, feeling guilty and stressed about gambling, borrowing money or selling things to fund gambling, or going back another day to win back lost money.
- Of pokies gamblers experiencing high levels of harm, 15% reported their most recent pokies session was between 12am and 4am - compared to 5% of those who didn't experience harms.
- For those regular pokies gamblers at high risk of gambling harm, the median duration of their most recent pokies session was 2 hours, and 1 hour for those at moderate risk. It was 45 minutes for those at low or no risk of gambling harm.
- Around 58% of high-risk gamblers 'loaded up' more than $50, compared to around 22% of low-risk gamblers and 14% of non-risk gamblers.
This is the third and final report from the National Gambling Trends Study 2023. Access the reports:
- What characteristics of pokies gambling sessions are associated with higher risk gambling?
- Regular online bettors in Australia, 2023
- Consumer perspectives on online betting: Trends in harm minimisation, advertising and normalisation
The Australian Gambling Research Centre is based at the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS). AIFS conducts original research to increase understanding of Australian families and the issues that affect them, see aifs.gov.au
