Western Australia has the maximum proportion of gamblers in the region but a lessen degree of issue gambling — due to the fact it has less electronic gaming equipment.
Crucial details:
- The Royal Commission purchased a report into gambling in WA
- It found the point out has the lowest proportion of trouble gamblers in the country
- This is due to WA obtaining fewer electronic gaming machines
That is the finding of an specialist report requested by the Perth Casino Royal Commission.
The report by a staff of CQUniversity gambling researchers, led by Matthew Rockloff, also found there was “no good proof” the Electronic Gaming Equipment (EGMs) performed at Crown Perth ended up safer for problem gamblers than the EGMs, or pokies, performed in other states.
Pokies have been banned by law in WA because the Crown Perth on line casino opened in 1985 and EGMs are only permitted to be performed at the casino.
All gaming machines ‘inherently dangerous’, says report
But the royal fee has read from numerous witnesses who have struggled to reveal the correct distinction among an unlawful poker device and a legal EGM accredited by the casino watchdog.
The CQUniversity report explained all EGMs ended up “inherently risky” because of the probable for gamblers to overspend and become addicted.
“…there seems to be no proof that the EGMs in WA are safer dependent on the machines by themselves,” it reported.
Info published in the report confirmed that about 63 for every cent of Western Australians gamble, when compared to about 56 for every cent in the relaxation of Australia.
But of these, only .9 for every cent of WA gamblers had been challenge gamblers, in comparison to 2.3 per cent in other states and territories.
Only 8.7 per cent of WA gamblers performed EGMs, when compared to 17.3 per cent elsewhere.
“…the point that WA experiences much less gambling troubles can only be described by the simple fact that less people today in WA gamble on EGMs,” it stated.
The report stated it would be realistic to conclude that if WA experienced more EGMs, the quantity of trouble gamblers would maximize.
“In point, our analyses … counsel that persons who enjoy EGMs in WA are just as most likely to have gambling complications as people today who engage in EGMs somewhere else.”